On Saturday, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) managed to maintained their winning runs when they defeated Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by a narrow margin of two runs in the first double-header. In the first innings, Dinesh Karthik led from the front as he amassed 58 off just 29 deliveries followed by Prasidh Krishna taking three wickets in the second innings.
After winning the toss, the KKR skipper decided to bat first after winning the toss, but KKR found themselves in trouble soon. Mohammed Shami castled Rahul Tripathi for just four runs while Nitish Rana was involved in a horrible mix-up with Shubman Gill. KKR was reeling at 14/2 in the fourth over, Gill and Eoin Morgan rebuilt the innings well to add 49 runs together before Ravi Bishnoi got the better of the latter who was just starting to open up.
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Dinesh Karthik, under the scanner for his poor form, came out to bat at five and came out all guns blazing. After taking a few deliveries to settle down, he began opening up his arms. Even Gill concentrated on rotating the strike, Kartik launched an all-out attack as his 23-ball 50 helped KKR add 63 runs in the last five overs and they reached a total of 164/6 in their quota of 20 overs.
The 165-run target looked tricky and KKR needed some early wickets but KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal played some smart cricket to make sure that they pounced on the opportunity. The duo stitched their second-century partnership of the season and also crossed their respective 50-run mark. Mayank Agarwal was dismissed by Prasidh Krishna, who played his first game, managed to provide the breakthrough getting the better of Agarwal for 56.
However, more than half a job was done by then. However, even after Nicholas Pooran got out in a bid to finish things off only to get bowled off Sunil Narine, things started to change. The equation suddenly was now 20 off the last two overs. This is when Prasidh Krishna pulled off a brilliant over conceding only six runs and dismissing KL Rahul (74) and Prabhsimran. It was Sunil Narine to bowl the final over and Glenn Maxwell was in the middle, but, Narine came out goof as he bowled well and leave the equation to Maxwell needing 7 runs off the last ball.
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The Aussie all-rounder though almost pulled off a shot which almost went for a six but actually it landed just before the boundary cushions. KXIP’s losing rut continued despite dominating the game for 36 overs on the day.
Match Summary
Kolkata Knight Riders – 164/6 in 20 overs (D Karthik 58, S Gill: 57; R Bishnoi: 1/25) defeated Kings XI Punjab – 162 for 5 in 20 overs (KL Rahul: 74; P Krishna: 3/29, S Narine: 2/28) by 2 runs
Here is how Twitterati reacted to KKR’s thrilling win:
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— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) October 10, 2020
A Bees …. away #KKRvsKXIP pic.twitter.com/AWqG7GByf6
— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) October 10, 2020
Kings XI Punjab is the shining exemplification of riches-to-rag story. Absolute King in first half; hapless Pauper in second half. #ipl2020 #KKRvsKXIP
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) October 10, 2020
The @lionsdenkxip franchise has every right to question their captains and coach. How on Earth could they lose this one? #KKRvsKXIP
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 10, 2020
Plenty to chew for KL and Anil. Maxwell if he is playing bats below the young Prabhsimran with 4 overs to play? While they are unlucky credit to Prasidh Krishna. Superb last over. And Punjab some decisions will haunt them.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) October 10, 2020
Game of inches…..
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 10, 2020
Haar kar jeetne wale ko ? @KKRiders #baazigar
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 10, 2020
KXIP? #ipl2020 #KKRvsKXIP
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) October 10, 2020
Prabhsimran ahead of Mandeep or Maxwell? He may well win the game for Kings XI, but wonder what the thinking was. Not like they're sitting pretty at the top to be taking such chances.
— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) October 10, 2020
When you don't back your overseas pick to get you 20 in 16 balls.
You are not doing your team good, not showing enough confidence in your pick and selection.
Deserved to lose, KL Rahul will realize that's why you want to get ahead of the game and not take it deep all the time.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 10, 2020
