Lucknow: In a thrilling display of cricket, Sunil Narine’s explosive half-century and exceptional bowling led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a resounding 98-run triumph against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The match, held on Sunday at the Ekana Stadium, saw KKR become the first team this season to surpass the 200-run landmark at the venue.
Narine, hailing from the West Indies, was in top form, hammering a rapid 81 off just 38 deliveries, including a barrage of seven sixes and six boundaries. His remarkable innings were instrumental in KKR posting a formidable total of 235/6.
LSG, faced with the daunting task of chasing a mammoth target, struggled to keep up the pace. Despite a valiant effort, they were bundled out for a mere 137 in 16.1 overs. The top order crumbled under pressure, with half the team, including skipper KL Rahul (25), Arshin Kulkarni (09), Deepak Hooda (05), Marcus Stoinis (36), and Nicholas Pooran (10), back in the pavilion within the first 10 overs.
Ashton Turner’s brief cameo, filled with aggressive shots, raised hopes of a fightback, but his dismissal by Varun Chakravarthy cut short the resurgence. This victory catapulted KKR to the top of the points table, level with Rajasthan Royals at 16 points but having played an additional match. Conversely, LSG’s defeat saw them slip to fifth place, with their net run rate taking a hit from 0.094 to -0.371.
Narine’s innings had a rocky start, with two dropped catches in quick succession. However, he quickly regained composure, smashing five consecutive boundaries to set the tone for KKR’s innings. Alongside Phil Salt (32 runs), Narine provided a fiery start, forging a swift 61-run partnership before Naveen Ul Haq claimed Salt’s wicket.
Yash Thakur’s economical bowling in the powerplay overs restricted KKR to 70/1. Nonetheless, Narine’s onslaught continued as he reached his fifty in 27 balls, targeting Marcus Stoinis for three fours in the 11th over. Ravi Bishnoi eventually halted Narine’s charge, capturing his wicket after two previous close calls.
LSG’s bowlers fought back, with Naveen Ul Haq dismissing Andre Russell (12 runs) and Yudhveer Singh, the ‘concussion sub’ for Mohsin Khan, claiming the wicket of Angkrish Raghuvanshi (32 runs). Naveen Ul Haq also ended Rinku Singh’s stint at the crease (16 runs), while Thakur took out KKR captain Shreyas Iyer (23 runs). In the end, Ramandeep Singh’s unbeaten quickfire 25 off six balls propelled KKR past the 230-run mark, setting the stage for their comprehensive victory.
