Rinku Singh was exceptional with the bat once more, but his 67-run effort was in vain as LSG won by one run against KKR.
Rinku Singh’s valiant 67-run knock was not enough as Lucknow Super Giants overcame Kolkata Knight Riders by a slim 1-run margin in an absolute thriller at the Eden Gardens. Rinku, who has provided several incredible chases for the Knight Riders this season, nearly pulled off another one on Saturday. Rinku’s ambitions were evident in the game’s late stages, notably when he smashed a massive 110-meter six against LSG pacer Naveen-ul-Haq to bring up his half-century.
While the win secured LSG a playoff spot, the loss to KKR ended their IPL 2023 season.
Venkatesh Iyer hit a couple of fours and a six off Mohsin Khan in the opening over as KKR chased 177. Jason Roy then went after Naveen-ul-Haq and smashed two fours and a straight six to make it 15 off the second over.
Krunal then entered the attack and bowled a solid over, allowing only six runs. The two scored 9 runs off K Gowtham, and Roy then went after Krunal, hitting three fours in a succession to make it 14 off the over.
Gowtham gave LSG his breakthrough when he caught Iyer (24 off 15) at extra cover as KKR reached 61/1 at the conclusion of the Powerplay. Ravi Bishoni then struck again, catching skipper Nitish Rana at extra cover off a leading edge for his 100th T20 wicket. Krunal removed Roy (45 off 28) to assist the away team in clawing their way back into the contest.
LSG bowled with precision and discipline, keeping things tight. Rahmanullah Gurbaz tried for a huge one but got an outside edge to backward point off Impact Player Yash Thakur, and Bishnoi grabbed a juggling catch. Thakur produced an excellent over, conceding only three runs.
Naveen bowled another solid over, allowing only six runs as the equation reached 63 runs off 30 balls. Russell attempted to increase the score by hitting a straight six off Bishnoi, but the LSG spinner rebounded back to knock Russell’s off stump down off the following ball. It was another really solid over for LSG, with only seven runs coming off it and Russell taking a crucial wicket.
Naveen delivered another superb over, surrendering only five runs, with 56 required from 24 balls. Rinku Singh finally let go, swinging one over deep backward square leg for a six. Yash Thakur, on the other hand, came back to remove Shardul Thakur, having him caught at deep square leg off a short ball. Sunil Narine was run out attempting to go for a dangerous second in the over, as KKR lost another wicket.
Apart from Rinku’s six runs, Yash produced a tremendous recovery, allowing only four more. Rinku Singh struck three fours in a row with 41 required off 12 balls, one off the outside edge, one rocketing off the centre past extra cover off Naveen, and one sliced over short third man. He then dashed through for a dangerous two off the following ball, reducing the equation to 27 off eight. He clobbered the next ball over deep square leg for a 110m six, bringing his total to fifty off only 27 balls. He swung and missed the last one as the over ended with 20 runs.
Krunal sent the ball to Impact Player Yash Thakur with 21 points required off six plays. Vaibhav Arora bunted the first ball down the pitch, setting up Rinku for the strike. The second one was labelled a WIDE because Yash bowled it wide outside off. The following ball was quick and short, and Rinku was outpaced when the ball flicked his helmet before he could finish his stroke. Rinku mistimed his throw to deep mid-wicket as the following one was in the blockhole. He declined the single. The next one was a wide.
With 18 needed off 3, Runku Singh hammered one over the deep mid-wicket stands, providing hope for another miracle. With 12 required off 2, Yash bowled it extremely full and Rinku slammed it past extra cover for a four. With 8 required off 1, Rinku whacked it over far on, where the fielder parried it over the ropes for a six, as the home side fell two runs short.
