In the IPL 2024 match between KKR and LSG, Kolkata Knight Riders emerged victorious with a stunning 98-run win over Lucknow. Batting first, Kolkata set a challenging target of 236 runs. The venue witnessed its first-ever breach of the 200-run mark in T20 cricket, highlighting Kolkata’s exceptional batting performance.
Phil Salt and Sunil Narine set the pace early on, with Narine leading the charge after Salt’s departure. With Narine’s impressive 81-run knock and valuable contributions from Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Andre Russell, Kolkata’s innings concluded with a flourish, courtesy of Ramandeep Singh’s (25*) explosive cameo.
Lucknow’s chase started promisingly with KL Rahul finding boundaries early on. However, their momentum was short-lived as Kulkarni fell quickly. Marcus Stoinis injected some vigor into the innings with powerful shots, supported by Rahul’s steady play. But Lucknow suffered setbacks with Rahul and Hooda departing cheaply. Stoinis, the backbone, also fell, triggering a collapse. Pooran’s cameo couldn’t salvage the situation as Lucknow’s batting line-up crumbled under pressure.
In the second innings, Kolkata’s strong start set the stage for an impressive victory. Mitchell Starc, continuing his excellent form, struck early with a wicket off his first over, thanks to a brilliant catch by Ramandeep Singh. Despite this initial breakthrough, Kolkata faced challenges in containing boundaries. However, Harshit Rana’s vital dismissal of KL Rahul leveled the playing field. Varun Chakravarthy added to the pressure with another wicket, while Andre Russell’s removal of Marcus Stoinis swung momentum Kolkata’s way.
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Russell’s subsequent dismissal of Nicholas Pooran further solidified Kolkata’s dominance. Chakravarthy continued to shine, taking two more wickets, effectively shutting down any hopes of a Lucknow comeback. Kolkata’s comprehensive 98-run victory showcased their all-around strength and propelled them to the top of the points table, leaving Lucknow struggling to find answers.
Last Updated on May 5, 2024
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