Hyderabad, May 19: Chris Lynn struck a sublime fifty while young Prasidh Krishna (4/30) shined with the ball as an upbeat Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 5 wickets and became the third team to qualify for the play-offs in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 here on Saturday (May 19).
Putting up a clinical performance, Dinesh Karthik and his boys rose to the occasion when it mattered the most and displayed in abundance the quality that sets apart a two-time champion team.
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Opting to bat, hosts SRH were restricted to 172 for nine after a flying start at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Playing in their crucial final league game, KKR held their nerves to chase down a target of 173 with two balls to spare.
If young medium pacer Prasidh Krishna's three wickets in the last over was a highlight of KKR's rally with the ball, openers Lynn and Sunil Narine's scintillating start, scoring 52 runs in 3.4 overs, headlined the two-time winners' response with the bat.
Thank u Wangdi Bhutia for your love & this honour. The whole KKR family will pray for ur success on this awesome journey. Really this is a big honour. Love to u. We will all try to be as brave & adventurous like u #KKRHaiTaiyaar pic.twitter.com/WuvjQMa8MC
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) May 19, 2018
While Lynn struck a brisk 55 off 43 balls with three sixes and four boundaries, Narine smashed 29 in just 10 to set up KKR's chase. Robin Uthappa, who got a life early in his innings, contributed 45 off 34 balls, as the visitors became the third team to qualify for the play-offs after Chennai Super Kings and their tonight's opponents.
There were fours and sixes galore, especially from the willows of Lynn, Narine and Uthappa, as the visiting bowlers struggled to pose any serious challenge to KKR's batsmen. Though they lost both Lynn and Uthappa when they were going great guns, KKR were never really troubled following that smashing start.
Been awake 24hrs to see these smiles. Thx @DineshKarthik @prasidh43 (well done young man) @robbieuthappa ( v have to exercise 2gether) @lynny50 (wow mate) & @SunilPNarine74 is...Sunil. Very happy cant sleep now!! pic.twitter.com/gdJWwBOG2K
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) May 19, 2018
Losing Lynn's wicket pegged back KKR for a while. They required 52 in the last six overs but a six each by skipper Dinesh Karthik and Uthappa brought the equation down to 26 off 24 balls. Uthappa and Andre Russell got out with the job yet to be done, but Karthik was there to see his team through.
1⃣6⃣ Points and into the Playoffs we go! 💜
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 19, 2018
A commendable performance from the #Knights, as we complete a hat-trick of wins and clear the first hurdle! 😎💪#SRHvKKR #IPL2018 #KKRHaiTaiyaar pic.twitter.com/epZ53PPner
Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan top-scored for the hosts with 50 off 39 balls, while Kane Williamson blazed away to 36 in just 17, hitting three sixes. But KKR, who needed a win in their last league game to make the play-offs on their own, staged a fightback as SRH managed just 45 runs in the last 7.1 overs after Williamson's dismissal.
The hosts, who have already qualified for the play-offs, were past the 100-run mark in the 11th over. The 22-year-old Prasidh was the most successful bowler for KKR, returning exceptional figures of 4/30 in four overs. Despite the last collapse, Sunrisers have still got to their highest score batting first at home this season.
Three former #IPL title winners SRH, CSK and KKR have now qualified to the playoffs in #IPL2018.
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) May 19, 2018
The fourth and final place to be decided by tomorrow among defending champion MI, inaugural winner RR and one time finalist KXIP.#SRHvKKR
The Sunrisers were off to a brisk start as Dhawan and Shreevats Goswami (35) added 79 runs in 8.4 overs, an opening record for the home team this season. With his 26-ball 35, Goswami, who has scored a fifty on his IPL debut in the inaugural season, more than made up for Alex Hales' absence.
Batting for the first time in this edition of the cash-rich league, Goswami got into the act in style, smashing Andre Russell for 20 runs in the third over. Two fours and a classy six over extra cover from Goswami and SRH were cruising at 36 for no loss at the end of the third over.
Dhawan lofted Narine over long-on for a maximum to maintain SRH's healthy run rate, but KKR's last match hero Kuldeep Yadav, after being hit for two boundaries in his first over, castled Goswami with a flighted delivery.
Look who's here to cheer for #OrangeArmy.#SRHvKKR #IPL2018@Pvsindhu1 @IamSaiDharamTej pic.twitter.com/gADS0IJdwE
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) May 19, 2018
In came the in-form Williamson, and he was off the mark straightaway, with a boundary. Yadav tried another flighted ball, but Williamson smoked it over long-on for a six, as SRH crossed the 100-run mark in the 11th over.
Not many gave @KKRiders a top 4 chance post the auction. Well, they’ve made it as team number 3.. Haven’t depended on one or two heroes through this campaign.. They’ve played like a team 👏🏻#SRHvKKR
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) May 19, 2018
Williamson then smashed medium pacer Javon Searles for two massive sixes over fine leg, off successive balls. But the cricketer from Barbados had his revenge when he had the prolific Williamson caught at deep point two balls later.
Meanwhile, Dhawan was offered a life on 45 when Narine dropped a sitter, but the left-handed India opener could not capitalise and got out for the addition of five runs.
(With inputs from PTI)