In a rain-hit encounter on Saturday night, the Kolkata Knight Riders secured their spot in the IPL playoffs with an impressive 18-run victory over the Mumbai Indians. Spin maestros Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy were the architects of Mumbai’s downfall after a promising start, as KKR defended a total of 157/7 in a rain-curtailed 16-overs-a-side contest.
Venkatesh Iyer’s explosive 42 off 21 balls provided the impetus for KKR‘s innings after a delayed start due to rain. However, a disciplined bowling effort from Mumbai restricted KKR to a modest total, with Piyush Chawla’s 2/38 being instrumental in curbing their momentum.
In response, Mumbai got off to a flying start, with Ishan Kishan’s aggressive 40 off 22 balls propelling them to 65/0 in just 6.4 overs. However, Narine’s crafty bowling turned the tide in KKR’s favour as he dismissed Kishan with a cleverly disguised delivery, triggering a collapse in Mumbai’s batting lineup.
Chakravarthy and Andre Russell joined the party, picking up crucial wickets to leave Mumbai reeling at 139/8 by the end of their 16 overs. Mumbai batters, including Rohit Sharma and captain Hardik Pandya, struggled to find their rhythm as KKR’s spin duo proved to be the difference-makers in the end.
Points table
With this victory, KKR not only secured their place in the playoffs but also bolstered their position at the top of the 10-team standings with 18 points. This marks a significant turnaround for KKR, who failed to qualify for the playoffs last season. MI, meanwhile, reel at the ninth spot in the table as they endured a ninth loss in the season.
Looking ahead, KKR will aim to consolidate their position with a top-two finish as they prepare to face the Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their remaining league matches. On the other hand, Mumbai Indians, who have endured a disappointing campaign, will be eager to salvage some pride in their final match against the Lucknow Super Giants.
