Finn Allen smashed 93 off 35 balls as Kolkata Knight Riders beat Gujarat Titans by 29 runs on Saturday to keep their IPL playoff hopes alive.
Kolkata’s top-order gave a brilliant batting effort, as they notched up 247-2.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi clobbered 82 not out off 44 balls, and Cameron Green hit 52 not out off 28 balls, as the hosts powered to the third-highest total in their history.
Sunil Narine then took 2-29 in his 200th IPL game as Gujarat were restricted to 218-4.
Skipper Shubman Gill’s 85 was in vain, as the Titans missed a chance to go top of the table.
Gujarat remain second with 16 points from 13 games. They need to win their final match against Chennai Super Kings on Thursday to confirm qualification for the playoffs.
“200-210 seemed par for that wicket but we dropped too many catches, our fielding could have been better,” Gill said.
“Dropping three simple chances meant we didn’t deserve to win this game.
“It is better to have a game like this now and not in the knockouts,” he added.
Kolkata kept their slim chances of making the knockouts alive and are seventh with 11 points from 12 games.
They have two games remaining and need to win both and hope other results go their way.
“We have been putting in the hard yards, preparing well, and it is showing,” Narine said after reaching a double century of IPL games.
“Hopefully we can continue winning, no matter what the tournament has in store for us.
“God gave me the strength, health and talent to play 200 games. Hopefully, I will play many more,” he added.
Put in to bat, Kolkata skipper Ajinkya Rahane fell cheaply but Allen survived two dropped catches to reach his fifty off 21 balls with four sixes.
Overall, Allen hit 10 sixes and put on 95 off 41 balls with Raghuvanshi for the second wicket.
After scoring 56-1 in the powerplay, Kolkata accelerated to 100 off the next 18 balls.
Raghuvanshi brought up his fifty off 33 balls, with four sixes. It was his fourth half-century this season.
It was only Allen’s second 50-plus score this season.
He had previously scored 100 not out off 47 balls against Delhi but fell seven short of a hundred this time, caught on the midwicket boundary in the 12th over.
Raghuvanshi carried on, adding 108 off 52 balls with Green, who hit four sixes.
It was Kolkata’s highest partnership against Gujarat.
Gujarat responded with a quick opening stand. Gill and Sai Sudharsan hit 42 off only 18 balls, before the latter retired hurt when he was hit on the elbow.
The skipper regained his form and added 128 off 73 balls with Jos Buttler, who scored 57.
Gill suffered from neck cramps and needed treatment. He hit seven sixes but was eventually caught on the boundary by Anukul Roy, a step away from the rope.
It was Narine’s second wicket and despite having Buttler at the crease, Gujarat never really gained sufficient momentum, even with Sudharsan returning to complete his half-century.
This was the first instance of six half-centuries in a single IPL game.
Source: Khaleej Times