Kolkata pull off 10-run win over Hyderabad
Wriddhiman Saha of Sunrisers Hyderabad takes a catch to dismiss Rahul Tripathi of Kolkata Knight Riders during the IPL match at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday
Chennai: Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 10 runs in their IPL opener at the M.A.Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing 188, the Orange Army managed to take their total to 177 for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.
Although middle-order batsman Abdul Samad inspired some hope with his blistering cameo, Andre Russell ensured victory for KKR in the final over.
Earlier, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) took five wickets in the last five overs and conceded just 42 runs but could only restrict Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to 187/6.
KKR looked set for a total well above the 200-run mark when their top order batsmen Nitish Rana (80), Rahul Tripathi (53) and Shubman Gill (15) took on the SRH bowlers.
However, SRH's Afghanistan duo Rashid Khan (2/24) and Mohammad Nabi (2/32) led the way in the death overs.
Rana and Gill put up a 53-run opening partnership off 42 balls before the latter fell to Rashid. However, Rahul Tripathi then came in and scored a belligerent 53 off 29 balls, smashing five fours and two sixes.
Tripathi put up 93 runs off just 50 balls for the second wicket with Rana.
Tripathi eventually fell to T Natarajan and with the team cruising at 146/2 in the 16th over, KKR sent in Andre Russell ahead of Shakib Al Hasan.
However, Russell ended up falling for just five runs off as many balls to Rashid after which Nabi dismissed Rana and KKR captain Eoin Morgan off consecutive deliveries in the 18th over.
Dinesh Karthik then scored 22 runs off nine balls to get KKR close to the 190-run mark while Shakib fell to Bhuvneshwar Kumar off the last ball of the innings.