IPL 2023: Russell’s muscle, Rinku and Rana help KKR win last-ball thriller

Synopsis: After Varun Chakravarthy helped hosts put up a tidy performance with the ball, their batsmen crafted the run-chase to perfection
Kolkata Knight Riders exacted revenge on Punjab Kings and lived to fight another day in this IPL season after a five-wicket win in a tense finish at the Eden Gardens on Monday.
Knight Riders, having a topsy-turvy season so far, were playing a must-win game and needing 180 to win. At one stage, they required 56 from 28 balls. But Andre Russell went berserk in the penultimate over from Sam Curran and scored 42 from 23 balls before Rinku Singh hit the last ball for a four to win it. With this result, KKR jumped to number five on the points table leaving Punjab Kings at number seven.
Bowling first, KKR’s inexperienced pace attack of Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana began too full and wide at times and were punished openers Prabhsimran Singh and Shikhar Dhawan. However, just when it seemed that Punjab would be off to a flier, Rana sent Prabhsimran back, having him caught Afghan wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Bowling at more than 140 clicks, Rana generated good pace and bounce and got rid of the dangerous Bhanuka Rajapaska for a duck. In the reverse fixture this season, the Sri Lankan left-hander had smashed a 32-ball 50 at Mohali.
Chakravarthy bamboozles Livingstone
Varun Chakarvarthy, introduced inside the Powerplay, once again showed why he is such a vital member of the KKR bowling unit when he outwitted the big-hitting Liam Livingstone. It was a beauty of a delivery as Chakarvarthy bowled a leg-break, and Livingstone, probably expecting a googly, misread it entirely and played down the wrong line to be caught plumb in front.
Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders bowler Varun Chakravarthy celebrates with teammates the wicket of Punjab Kings batter Liam Livingstone during the IPL 2023 cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Monday, May 8, 2023. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra
However, that did not deter Punjab and, despite losing three wickets, they crossed the 50-run mark in five overs.
In his second spell, Chakravarthy returned and got rid of the dangerous Jitesh Sharma with a carrom ball and broke a good partnership of 53 (42) he was having with Dhawan. Jitesh, who looked well settled and played Suyash Sharma and Suni Narine with relative ease, gave Punjab Kings momentum after rebuilding in the middle overs, but fell to Chakravarthy’s guile.
Dhawan – Mr Consent
Even as wickets fell at the other end, Dhawan showed his consency, regering his 50th half-century in the IPL. He became only the third player to achieve this feat after Virat Kohli and David Warner. One noticeable aspect of Dhawan’s batting was how he took on the KKR spin troika of Narine, Sharma and Chakravarthy. That was employing the sweep and reverse sweep. He reached his 50 off 41 balls with a six off Narine.
Spin to choke
KKR bowling coach Bharat Arun, speaking in the mid-innings break, observed that a score of 180 should be par since the surface was slower. This probably prompted skipper Nitish Rana to use 13 overs of spin which helped KKR choke Punjab Kings in the second half of the innings. At one stage, it seemed like KKR would restrict PBKS below 160, but the inexperience of Rana and Arora was exposed as Harpreet Brar and Shahrukh Khan scored 36 off the last two overs, which took their team to 179 in 20 overs. Chakravarthy, speaking at the break, highlighted that the pitch got better during the innings, especially after the 12th over. Maybe dew did play a part.
KKR steady at the start
Chasing 180 was always going to be tricky, and KKR sent their best opening combination of Jason Roy (Impact Player) and Gurbaz. After a steady start, Gurbaz was the first to fall, outfoxed a slower one from Nathan Ellis ( playing as the Impact Player for Punjab). After Gurbaz’s wicket, Roy and Nitish Rana played their shots without inhibition, bringing up the 50 inside the PowerPlay and keeping KKR in the run-chase.
Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders batters Jason Roy and Rahmanullah Gurbaz run between the wickets during the IPL 2023 cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Monday, May 8, 2023. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)
Middle-overs muddle
But just when it seemed KKR were on course with dew seemingly helping stroke-making, Roy gifted his wicket to left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar, leaving KKR at 64/2 in 7.2 overs.
With Venkatesh Iyer and Rana as the two new batters at the crease, KKR lost momentum as the required run rate rose. Ellis was particularly impressive in his first two overs and conceded just eight runs, while Brar and leg-spinner Rahul Chahar were also miserly as the pressure kept building up.
Captains’ knock
But the decision from Dhawan to give the ball to Liam Livingstone backfired and spoiled the excellent work of Ellis, Brar and Chahar. Rana smashed 16 off the over, and the momentum shifted towards KKR. Rana played a captain’s knock like his counterpart, leading from the front and bringing up his fifty in 37 balls. However, his decision to employ the reverse sweep against Chahar led to his downfall as Kolkata slipped to 124/4 in 15.2 overs, needing 56 runs in 28 balls with Russell and Rinku in the middle.
Russell Mania at the end
The duo used the long handle to good effect, but it was Russell who made the difference. Setting up deep in his crease, he slammed three sixes in the 19th over bowled Curran, which turned the game on its head. Punjab Kings also probably missed a trick not using Harpreet Brar (1-0-4-1) more on a pitch favouring tweakers.

Arshdeep Singh had only six runs to defend in the last over and almost pulled it off. Russell was run out off the penultimate ball, leaving KKR to get two off the final delivery. But it was Rinku who hit the full toss for a four as Eden Gardens erupted in joy.