At a glance
- Allen top-scored with 93 off 35 balls as KKR score 247-2
- Narine’s economical spell makes a massive target look bigger for GT
- Gill’s 85 not enough to help GT chase down their target
Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green and Sunil Narine all starred as KKR beat GT by 29 runs on Saturday. Allen top-scored for KKR, with Raghuvanshi and Green also scoring fifties as Kolkata set Gujarat Titans a daunting 248 to win in their 20 overs.
In the chase, it was Narine who kept GT at bay for most part, taking two wickets and conceding just 29 runs in his four overs.
Kolkata Knight Riders 247-2 (Allen 93, Raghuvanshi 82*, Kishore 1-38) beat Gujarat Titans 218-4 (Gill 85, Buttler 57, Narine 2-29) by 29 runs. View the full scorecard here.
Gill half-century in vain as KKR beat GT by 29 runs
The Gujarat Titans chase was mostly powered by a splendid 85 from Shubman Gill, although in vain. In spite of opening partner Sai Sudharshan going off the field injured thanks to a nasty blow to his elbow from Kartik Tyagi, Gill kept going.
Another Gill classic, his knock was filled with some eye-pleasing shots. However, he was never really able to move into sixth gear, something that his team would need in a chase of 248. In the end, Sunil Narine got his man after Anukul Roy did well to hold on to a good catch on the square leg boundary.
Fifties from Jos Buttler and Sudharshan, who came back after retiring hurt earlier, were not enough in the end as GT only got to 218-4 in their 20 overs, well short of the 248 they needed.
Narine was named the Player of the Match for his economical spell and his timely dismissals. The West Indian finished with figures of 2/29.
Fifties from Allen, Raghuvanshi, Green power KKR to 247-2
Earlier tonight, Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green turned up with the bat to ensure the Kolkata Knight Riders scored big. After Rahane was dismissed in the powerplay, Allen and Raghuvanshi came together to put on 95 runs for the second wicket.
Allen, in particular, was relentless. He spared no bowler, smashing ten sixes and four fours on his way to a 35-ball 93. The Kiwi opener went over long-off, midwicket and square leg almost at will. He would, unfortunately, fall seven short of his hundred after he found Rashid Khan at deep midwicket off Sai Kishore’s bowling. But the damage had been done…
…and more damage was on its way. Raghuvanshi and Green continued Allen’s good work, putting together an unbeaten 108-run partnership in 52 balls. Their good work late in the innings saw them score 68 in the final five overs. Raghuvanshi was particularly harsh on Siraj, scoring 25 off the penultimate over of the innings. He finished on an unbeaten 82. Green would also then reach his fifty in the final over with a boundary off Rashid.
KKR’s 247-2 tonight is their third highest score in IPL history. The 22 sixes they hit was also the joint second highest such tally in a single innings in competition.
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