In a contest between two struggling sides, Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants produced a gripping encounter that swung wildly before being settled in a tense Super Over. The night ultimately belonged to Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine, who delivered when it mattered most.
KKR looked in deep trouble at 129 for 7 after 19 overs. Rinku then turned the match on its head, smashing four consecutive sixes in the final over to lift his side to 155 for 7. His unbeaten 83 from 51 deliveries marked his highest score in the format and kept his team alive.
LSG’s chase mirrored the chaos. With 17 required from the last over, the game took a dramatic turn as Kartik Tyagi struggled with control, conceding no balls before picking up a wicket. Needing seven from the final delivery, Mohammed Shami launched a powerful hit over long off to tie the scores and force a Super Over.
The decider, however, was one sided. Narine dismantled LSG’s hopes quickly, removing Nicholas Pooran on the first ball and Aiden Markram soon after. Only a single came in between, leaving KKR with a minimal target. Rinku once again stepped up, striking a boundary off the first ball to seal the win.
Earlier, Mohsin Khan had nearly buried KKR with a superb five wicket haul, dismantling their top order and leaving them reeling at 73 for 6. The innings also saw a rare dismissal as Angkrish Raghuvanshi was given out for obstructing the field, adding to the drama.
LSG never quite found fluency in their pursuit, despite a late surge from Himmat Singh and contributions from the lower order. Their recovery fell just short in the tie breaker.
In the end, KKR held their composure in the decisive moments, with Rinku’s all round impact and Narine’s clinical bowling proving the difference in a contest full of twists.
