Sunil Narine's scintillating fifty and a collective effort from the bowlers fueled Kolkata Knight Riders' 98-run win over Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The decision to bowl first did not go to plan for LSG as KKR became the first team to cross the 200-run mark at the Ekana Stadium. Narine (81 off 38 balls) once again proved his worth with the willow and went on a six-single attack, firing seven maximums and six fours to take the visitors to 235/6.
Chasing an imposing total, LSG batters had to go from the start but the hosts found it difficult to get the big shots and were eventually bowled out for 137 in 16.1 overs.
Within the first 10 overs, LSG had lost half the side, including skipper KL Rahul (25), Arshin Kulkarni (9), Deepak Hooda (5) and big hitters Marcus Stoinis (36) and Nicholas Pooran (10).
Ashton Turner struck a few lusty blows and looked in mood to demonstrate his batting skills, but the Australian had the worst of luck as an inside edge deflected off his boot as Varun Chakravarthy completed a catch and bowling.
With the win, KKR moved to the top of the table. They have 16 points, the same as Rajasthan Royals, but have played one more match.
LSG, on the other hand, fell out of the top four to fifth place with 12 points from 11 games. Their Net Run Rate also took a huge hit, dropping from 0.094 to -0.371.
Earlier, the in-form Narine, who was dropped twice in two balls, smoked five boundaries in five balls, setting the tone for the KKR innings.
First, he hit back-to-back fours off Naveen-ul-Haq in the last two balls of the third over. He then attacked offside and hit three boundaries off Mohsin Khan's trot in the fourth over.
Narine and Phil Salt (32) gave the two-time champions the explosive start they are used to from the duo. Together they set up a quick 61-run stand before Naveen-ul Haq slowed the pace and sent the Englishman packing.
Medium pacer Yash Thakur then stemmed the flow of runs in the last over of the powerplay, giving away just two runs as KKR reached 70/1.
However, the unflappable Narine continued his attack, bringing up his fifty off 27 deliveries with a cheeky late dab that sent the ball rolling past short third.
He took a particular liking to Marcus Stoinis and sent the ball over the fence three times in the 11th over.
But Ravi Bishnoi, on whose bowling Narine was dropped twice earlier, was lucky for the third time as he ended the all-rounder's spectacular innings.
The LSG bowlers were able to contain the KKR batters as they continued to take wickets.
Naveen-ul Haq dismissed Andre Russell (12) before Yudhvir Singh, who came on as a concussion substitute for Mohsin Khan, picked up the wicket of young Angkrish Raghuvanshi (32) in the next over.
The Afghan pacer returned to action to account for big batsman Rinku Singh (16) while Thakur removed Shreyas Iyer (23).
But Ramandeep Singh's unbeaten 25 off 6 balls took KKR past the 230-run mark.
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