It has been a far from ideal IPL season for Kolkata Knight Riders. They started decently with three wins from the first four matches, but then the team lost five on the bounce. And just when it seemed they had managed to get their campaign back on track with a win against Rajasthan Royals, KKR are back to their losing ways. On Saturday, KKR received a comprehensive 75-run thumping at the hands of table-toppers Lucknow Super Giants. Chasing 177 to win, KKR folded for a paltry 101 in Pune. Andre Russell (45) and Sunil Narine (22) provided some fireworks, but the LSG pace attack was too strong.
Knight Riders stay alive
It was a top effort by the Kolkata Knight Riders and especially their bowlers as they bowled out Mumbai Indians for only 113 and defended 165 to win the match by 52 runs and stay in the hunt for a Playoffs spot in the Indian Premier League 2022. Though the chase didn't really start well for the Mumbai Indians as they lost Rohit Sharma early and Tailak Varma departed soon too. But Ishan Kishan at one end was keeping the hopes alive and it seemed that it was going to be a victory for the Mumbai side. However, Pat Cummins broke the back of the chase by picking up three wickets in one over.
Jaiswal leads Rajasthan's revival
Dropped after three failures in the initial stages of the IPL, Yashasvi Jaiswal was presented with one more opportunity to justify his selection. The young southpaw grabbed it with both hands, slamming a fiery half-century to almost single-handedly help Rajasthan Royals beat Punjab Kings by six wickets and arrest a two-match winless streak. Rajasthan’s chase of 190 got off to a flier with Jaiswal and Jos Buttler clobbering the new-ball duo of Sandeep Sharma and Kagiso Rabada for 46 runs off a mere 23 balls before being separated by the South African pacer.
RCB’s massive win over SRH
Spinner Wanindu Hasaranga picked up a five-wicket haul after skipper Faf du Plessis’ half-century as Royal Challengers recorded a 67-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad to boost their play-off hopes in the IPL on Sunday. Opting to bat on a slow surface, du Plessis led from the front with a 50-ball 73 not out, while Dinesh Karthik (eight-ball 30 not out) provided the late flourish as RCB overcame an anxious start to post 192/3. In response, Sunrisers Hyderabad were skittled out for 125 to crash to their fourth loss on the trot as Hasaranga stymied their chase with figures of 4-1-18-5.
Conway, Moeen star in CSK win
Devon Conway’s blazing blade and Moeen Ali’s effective offbreaks beautifully complemented each other as Chennai Super Kings outclassed Delhi Capitals in every department of the game, winning their IPL match by a comprehensive 91-run margin. Put in to bat, Conway completed a hat-trick of half-centuries with a superb 87 off 49 balls to set up a winning score of 208 for 6 in 20 overs. The scoreboard pressure was always mounting on Capitals as they finally managed 117 in 17.4 overs with Moeen (3/13 in 4 overs) taking wickets of Mitchell Marsh (25 off 20 balls) and skipper Rishabh Pant (21 off 11 balls) in quick succession to finish the contest.
Warner helps Delhi to win over Sunrisers
Explosive Australia opening batter David Warner's 92 not out off 58 balls powered Delhi Capitals to a 21-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their Indian Premier League match. Warner made his highest score of the season with the help of 12 fours and three sixes in a power-packed batting display and shared 122 runs with Rovman Powell (67 not out off 35 balls) for the unconquered fourth wicket to guide the Capitals to 207 for 3 after being asked to bat. The Capitals then restricted the Sunrisers to 186 for 8 with Khaleel Ahmed (3/30) and Shardul Thakur (2/44) sharing five wickets between them to notch up their fifth win of the season.
Titans lose nerve as MI win in close finish
Openers Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha had laid a solid foundation for Gujarat Titans with a century partnership for the opening wicket, but clinical bowling and good work in the field helped Mumbai Indians pull off a five-run win on Friday. Saha struck a superb 40-ball 55 while Gill blasted 52 off 36 deliveries as they went neck-and-neck in scoring runs to give their team a brilliant start as they chased Mumbai Indians’ 177/6 in 20 overs build largely on vital innings by skipper Rohit Sharma (43), Ishan Kishan (45) and Tim David (44 not out). But a hit-wicket and two runouts changed the course of the game as Mumbai Indians dragged the match to 9 needed off the final over and Daniel Sams denied David Miller many opportunities as Gujarat Titans were restricted to 172/5 in 20 overs.
