After losing the toss, Kolkata Knight Riders started batting, with openers Subhmann Gill and Chris Lynn. Kolkata had quite a good start; with opening duo scoring 10 runs at least in every over. In the powerplay alone, Kolkata batsmen smacked 50 runs on the boards. The duo was going strong and in the 9th over Chris Lynn brings up his 50 from just 27 balls, Kolkata 89-0 after 9 overs. It seemed like there was no stopping openers, just when Rahul Chahar picks his 1st wicket of the night, to break the 96 runs partnership, as Chris Lynn (54 out; 29b; 8X, 2X6) walked back, contributing 54 runs on board, KKR 97-1 after 10 overs. Subhmann Gill brings up his 50 in the very next over. With Russell on crease and already a good start from KKR, Mumbai Indians were desperate to take wickets. There was no breakthrough for Mumbai Indians for a few overs to come, as Russell was warming up in the 14th overs, with 2 back-to-back sixes off Rahul Chahar’s ball. Mumbai ceased Subhmann Gill’s (76 out, 46b; 6X4, 4X6) wicket in the 16th over, as Hardik Pandya strikes for the 1st time, KKR 164-2 after 16 overs. Andre Russell (80 not out; 40b; 6X4, 8X6) and Dinesh Karthik (15 not out; 7b; 1X4, 1X6) were determined to take the hosts over 200+ final score. Russell completes his 50 in the 19th over, and Kolkata Knight Riders also brings up their 200. Kolkata finished the 20 overs with some hefty performance from the team, with the final score of 232 on board, with the loss of 2 wickets.
Mumbai Indians were looking good at the start of the 2nd innings, as Rohit Sharma hits 2 boundaries of the very first over. However, Sunil Narine got an early breakthrough for the Kolkata Knight Riders, as he scalps Quinton de Kock’s (0 out; 4b) wicket in the 2nd over, Mumbai 13-1 after 2 overs. The next breakthrough for KKR arrived soon enough, in the 4th over, as Gurney picked skipper Rohit Sharma’s (12 out; 9b; 3X4) wicket, Mumbai 21-2 after 4 overs. Evin Lewis and Suryakumar Yadav were trying to keep up with the climbing run rate, as Mumbai put 41 runs on board in the powerplay. However, Andre Russell was doing magic with his bowling as well, as he picked up Evin Lewis’ (15 out; 16b; 1X4, 1X6) wicket, in the first ball of his innings, as Mumbai struggled at 46-3 after 7 overs. Russell’s show wasn’t quite over yet, as he picks, Suryakumar Yadav’s (26 out; 14b; 2X4, 2X6) wicket in his next over, Mumbai Indians at 60-4 after 9 overs. As Hardik Pandya walked up to the crease, things started turning around in Mumbai Indians’ favor. Hardik Pandya was putting on a tremendous show, while on the other hand, Kieron Pollard (20 out; 21b; 2X4) succumbed to Sunil Narine’s spell at the start of 14th over, Pandya also completed his half century from just 17 balls ,as MI needed 100 more runs to win from 36 balls. Hardik Pandya seemed unstoppable, as he was attacking the spinners for massive over. With 48 runs to score from 12 balls, Harry Gurney dismisses dangerous Hardik Pandya (91 out; 34b; 6X4, 9X6), after his blitzkrieg performance of 91 from just 34 balls. As Hardik Pandya walked out, Mumbai’s hope almost came to an end. Krunal Pandya goes down in the 20th over, as Piyush Chawla finally gets his due for the night. Kolkata Knight Riders won the match by 34 runs.
