Allen, Raghuvanshi and Green Shine for Kolkata
Kolkata: Hosts Kolkata Knight Riders (247/2 in 20 overs) kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a thrilling 29-run victory over Gujarat Titans (218/4 in 20 overs) in a high-scoring IPL clash at Eden Gardens on Saturday. Just as Mumbai had made Punjab’s playoff qualification slightly difficult on Thursday and Lucknow had put Chennai under pressure on Friday, Kolkata have now delayed Gujarat’s official entry into the playoffs, though it is still not impossible for them.
Captain Shubman Gill smashed 85 runs off 49 balls with seven sixes and five fours, but spinner Sunil Narine denied him a century. Josh Buttler scored 57 off 35 balls with two sixes and five fours, while Sai Sudharsan remained unbeaten on 53 off 28 balls with three sixes and six fours. This batting trio has brought Gujarat close to playoff qualification, but on Saturday they failed to guide the team to victory against Kolkata. Buttler was dismissed in the 19th over by pacer Saurabh Dubey. Narine claimed two wickets, while Cameron Green picked up one.
Nishant Sindhu Fails Again
The IPL is India’s franchise league and provides opportunities to emerging Indian players, but 22-year-old Haryana left-handed batter Nishant Sindhu has failed to impress despite getting three chances for Gujarat. In the previous two matches he had scored 15 and 22 while batting at No. 4, and on Saturday, despite getting an opportunity at one-down against Kolkata, he managed just one run.
Sudharsan Hit on Elbow, Narine’s 200th Match
Gujarat opener Sai Sudharsan retired hurt due to injury. In the third over of Gujarat’s innings, bowled by Kolkata pacer Kartik Tyagi, the final ball struck Sudharsan on the elbow, forcing him to retire hurt on 23. However, he returned later when the team needed him and finished unbeaten on 53.
This was Sunil Narine’s 200th IPL match, and he marked the occasion by taking Gujarat’s first wicket — that of Nishant Sindhu. Narine became the first overseas player to feature in 200 IPL matches.
Allen’s Explosive Knock, Siraj’s 200th T20 Wicket
Earlier, Kolkata posted a massive 247/2 in 20 overs, thanks mainly to Finn Allen’s 93 off 35 balls with ten sixes and four fours, Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s unbeaten 82 off 44 balls with seven sixes and four fours, and Cameron Green’s unbeaten 52 off 28 balls with four sixes and three fours.
Allen first shared a 44-run opening partnership with captain Ajinkya Rahane and later added 95 runs for the second wicket with Raghuvanshi. Rahane’s wicket was taken by Mohammed Siraj, which was the pacer’s 200th wicket in T20 cricket. A total of 22 sixes were hit in the innings. Among Gujarat’s six bowlers, only Siraj and Sai Kishore managed one wicket each.
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Today’s Matches
Punjab vs
Bengaluru
At Dharamshala, 3.30 pm
Delhi vs Rajasthan
In Delhi, 7.30 pm
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