Six more, but LSG win by one run! Spare a thought for Rinku. Of course a win wouldn't have taken KKR through, but the guy did all the work possible only for them to fall one short. It was a full toss angling into middle, which he hoicked hard and flat. The fielder at long-on leapt and even got a hand, only for the ball to drop back beyond the rope
LSG vs KKR, 68th Match at Kolkata, IPL, May 20 2023 - Match Result
LSG were 73 for 5 in the 11th over, after which Pooran bashed 58 off 30 balls. KKR needed 41 to win from 12 balls, and Rinku smashed 39. Two classic comebacks, but only one winner. That's it from the last game at Eden Gardens this IPL, as LSG plan for playoffs while KKR ponder for next season. Here's Hemant's report for a quick recall of the day's play, as this is Himanshu signing off on behalf of Vairavan and Hemant!
Nicholas Pooran is the Player of the Match: "I had to take it as deep as possible. I was looking to capitalise. This was a small pitch. I pride myself to play in these situations [after he came out at 73 for 5]. Ayush [Badoni] and I had had a partnership against Chennai as well. Our bowlers have done it in the last two games. We have a young bowling attack."
Krunal Pandya speaks as LSG qualify: "Very happy... we never gave up. At one stage they were 61 for 1, and we felt just two or three tight overs can change the state of the game. There was grip for the spinners. Rinku has been special every game. You can't take him easy. But it's a high-pressure situation when bowling those death overs. I went with my gut [feel] and gave Yash instead of Mohsin the last over. It just paid off."
Time for the presentations
Suhas: "How important was that dot ball at 18.6?"
Ravi Bishnoi after the win: "Always feels good to win. Feels good to qualify too. It was scary in every ball [with Rinku batting that way]. We thought we had enough on the board. The plan was to bowl wicket to wicket."
Rummy: "What a show Rinku! Take a bow!"
Nitish Rana after the defeat: "The result wasn't in our favour, but there are a lot of positives from the season. Hopefully we come back as a better team. You have to win back to back, and I feel bad since we had the ability finish games off. Looks like I have spoken Rinku all 14 times that I have held the mic after a match! I really don't have words to define him. If he can bat that way in that situation, then he can do anything!"
Afeef: "Get Rinku Singh into India's T20I squad immediately"
11.29pm All said and done, LSG are assured of a place in the playoffs. They will finish third no matter what. It came down all the way to the last ball of their last league game to decide that. Too much left for Rinku to do at the end. Painful for KKR, who were carried all along by Rinku. But it's LSG day in the end, as they now shift their focus on what is to come. Hang around for the presentations.
four wide of long-off! Ah, Rinku just falls short of what he needed. The ball was full outside off, and he drilled wide of the fielder
12 from 2 balls
Monoj: "HERE WE GO AGAIN!!"
the first of three sixes needed! Whipped over deep midwicket. Oh my, that made a ridiculous sound off the bat. Slower ball, angling into his pads off a length. Rinku saw, and sent that flaying
another wide. Dipping full toss wide of off, as Rinku doesn't get bat on ball while stabbing
very well bowled. Low full toss outside off, and whipped to deep midwicket. Rinku doesn't run
good ball. A bouncer fired, as he bowls short on off, with Rinku trying to pull, as the ball was quite high for his liking. Took his eyes off last moment
and it's called wide, even as it looked tight. Yorker length ball wide of off, as Rinku tried to poke but missed
20 off 5. Rinku on strike.
and he gets a single. Backs away, as the ball is full and outside leg. Pushed to long-on
New man Arora on strike. But he just needs a single, as KKR seek 21 off 6.
ah, first Rinku is beaten off a slower ball, and then there's a mix-up after which they finally decide not to run. Change of pace on a good length, as the ball shapes away to end outside off and keeps a bit low. Rinku pulls but misses
21 off 7
that is a massive hit! That's Rinku's fifty too. Rinku can do no wrong. Absolutely whips that over deep square, as he gets a length ball on middle and leg. It was there to be hit, and Rinku obliged
shortish ball, angles away to end outside off. Pulled towards deep square, and he finishes the second while panting and diving and tumbling
Over the wicket now
Kakani: "Rinku starts the show... 18.1"
to deep third now! This goes over the fielder, who was inside the circle. Slower ball, and short in length outside off. It bounced nicely too, even as Rinku waited before ramping it over for four more
33 off 10
drilled to deep extra cover! What a sound that made: the ball was full and outside off, and Rinku crashed that off the middle of the bat to send that racing away
over short third! A top edge, but it doesn't matter. Shortish ball around off, as Rinku skips down and swings while trying to pull, but doesn't time it
low full toss, angling into off. Sliced to point, who gets a hand while diving to his right. And, and... there is a quick throw to the keeper, who breaks the stumps quickly. LSG appeal for run-out, and the third umpire finds Narine well short. The ball had dribbled towards deep third after tickling the point fielder's hands, as the throw arrived bang close to the wicket
and again. He went wide of the crease, and bowled a yorker wide of off, albeit this is given wide after Narine lets it go
yorker and wide of off. Left alone
Narine in
taken at deep backward square! The longer boundary comes into play, and Thakur fails to clear it. It was a short delivery pitching on middle, and climbing nicely after pitching. Thakur looked to pull, but the bounce got the better of him, as he almost swivelled while pulling. The ball got high on to his bat, and flew towards the fielder
full and wide of off, and drilled to deep third
Krunal and Yash Thakur have a chat
Rinku is keeping them dreaming! A hard pull over deep square leg, and the crowd is alive again. Short ball angling into middle and off - from the angle of around the wicket - as Rinku rides the bounce
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Eden Gardens, Kolkata | |
Toss | Kolkata Knight Riders, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2023 |
Player Of The Match | |
Match days | 20 May 2023 - night (20-over match) |
KKR Player Replacement | Impact player: in, out (1st innings, 10.6 ov) |
LSG Player Replacement | Impact player: in, out (1st innings, 19.6 ov) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Lucknow Super Giants 2, Kolkata Knight Riders 0 |
Over 20 • KKR 175/7
LSG won by 1 run