SYNOPSIS: After a power-packed show from their batting line-up led by Sunil Narine, an all-round effort from their bowlers gives Kolkata Knight Riders a 98-run win over Lucknow Super Giants.
All the focus might be on Kolkata’s batting line-up, but their attack is also ensuring nobody takes eyes off them. After breaching the Wankhede citadel for the first time in 12 years, they overcame Lucknow Super Giants in their own backyard. Lucknow hasn’t been an easy venue to ace the conditions straightaway, but Knight Riders have managed to do it with another statement win that takes them to the top spot.
There were concerns with their bowling unit, but with the play-offs approaching, they are tightening the screws on all fronts. At a time when net run rate could come into the picture, after their batsmen put up another power-packed show, an all-round effort from Kolkata’s attack gave them a huge 98-run win. Just like their batsmen, even their bowlers are beginning to show their ruthless side.
High-Fives in the @KKRiders camp 🙌
With that they move to the 🔝 of the Points Table with 16 points 💜
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/CgxfC5H2pD#TATAIPL | #LSGvKKR pic.twitter.com/0dUMJLasNQ
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 5, 2024
With a cushion of 235 runs, they went on the attack, fully aware Lucknow would come hard at them. After Arshin Kulkarni perished early in the chase, KL Rahul and Marcus Stoinis had reignited interest. But the necessary intent was missing all along. They tried, but Kolkata’s attack wasn’t going to wilt under pressure. It was always going to be a matter of time until Lucknow lost the way. And when Rahul departed in the eighth over, their slide began.
Thereafter, Lucknow lost Deepak Hooda, Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran in the next four overs as Kolkata took a grip on the game. From there, with Lucknow among the teams in a mid-table jam, there was only scope for them to take the game deep keeping net run rate in mind. But Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Andre Russell and the rest had other ideas as Lucknow’s innings ended in 16.1 overs. How much damage that caused only time will tell.
Can’t keep him out of action 😎
Andre Russell breaking into the #LSG middle order with a fine spell of bowling 👌👌
Watch the match LIVE on @StarSportsIndia and @JioCinema 💻📱#TATAIPL | #LSGvKKR | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/utdNMbI4i5
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 5, 2024
Sunny by Knight
It is quite remarkable how Kolkata Knight Riders keep winning games with the bat in the Powerplay. They have now made this a habit. But there was something truly remarkable about what they did at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Of all the IPL venues, this has been the one that is a throwback to a previous era of T20s, when teams could win games on slow, two-paced decks. Big outfields and a potent attack to suit the conditions meant it was a ground where teams were yet to touch 200.
It was Kolkata batsmen, especially their openers, who ensured that stat became history. As usual, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, who started slowly for a change, set the tone, before Kolkata’s middle and lower order completed the job. Batting units, especially the top order, on these two-paced pitches, have settled for totals of 180 as par batting first. Time and again, batsmen have found it challenging to keep the big hits going in Lucknow, especially against the old ball. As Kolkata’s batting line-up showed in the end, it is a venue where unless the top order sets a good platform, trying to play catch-up at the end could be suicidal.
A swashbuckling knock 🤯
Watch Sunil Narine’s 81(39) 🔽#TATAIPL | #LSGvKKR
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 5, 2024
But Salt and Narine had other ideas. Right through this campaign, they have tried to push the glass ceiling and their intent was no different on Sunday. They seamlessly accelerated into fifth gear even before Lucknow’s bowlers could realise what was happening and from thereon, the usual carnage resumed.
Salt was the first one off the block as 10 came in the first over delivered by Marcus Stoinis. The first six came in the second over delivered by Mohsin Khan before Salt greeted Naveen-ul-Haq with two crisp boundaries. And by the time Narine made room and converted a yorker into a low full toss and hit it over cover, the party was well and truly on.
SAILING AWAY ⛵️
Sunil Narine’s fabulous run continues with another stroke full FIFTY 💥
He also crosses the 4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣- run mark for the first time in #TATAIPL 👏👏
Watch the match LIVE on @JioCinema and @StarSportsIndia 💻📱#LSGvKKR | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/Iw1aeFz9nQ
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 5, 2024
That boundary got Narine going and any doubts about his rhythm were put to rest on the second delivery of the fourth over. This slow full one from Mohsin, wide of off-stump, seemed good until Narine just used his forehand and swatted it through the covers. It must have been crushing for Mohsin, who would leak two more boundaries and a six to Narine in the same over. Lucknow did manage to pull the strings back in the last two overs of the Powerplay, conceding only 13 runs and Naveen taking the wicket of Salt.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi would then play second fiddle to Narine. He was happy handing the strike back to Narine, who didn’t spare any Lucknow bowler. Despite a quiet over from Ravi Bishnoi, Narine was in no mood to hand the momentum back to the hosts as sixes flew off his bat. That Lucknow gift-wrapped it by bowling to Narine’s strengths helped little as Kolkata’s run rate reached 11 runs by the end of the 10th over. From there, getting past 200 seemed only a formality.
But truth be told, with the old ball, Lucknow made a good comeback. After Narine departed in the 12th over for a 39-ball 81 (6x4s, 7x6s), the rest of Kolkata batsmen’s intent was straightforward: To keep going for the bowling. Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ramandeep Singh and Venkatesh Iyer all played their part as Lucknow kept chipping away at the wickets even as boundaries kept flowing. The final four overs alone brought Kolkata 57 runs as they put on 235/6 on board.
Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 235/6 in 20 overs (Sunil Narine 81; Naveen-ul-Haq 3/49) beat Lucknow Super Giants 137 all out in 16.1 overs (Stoinis 36; Harshit Rana 3/24, Narine 1/22) by 98 runs
