KKR vs PBKS Highlights: Andre Russell, Rinku Singh Keep KKR Hope Alive For Playoffs

KKR vs PBKS Highlights: Andre Russell reversed the clock with a score of 42 off 23 balls, but Rinku Singh once again emerged as the savior-in-chief by turning Arshdeep Singh off his legs for a boundary when the equation read two runs from one delivery. With this five-wicket victory over Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders remained in contention for the playoffs despite nearly being eliminated in the middle overs of a difficult pursuit of 180.

Jitesh Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan's 53-run partnership kept Punjab Kings in the chase for a par score until cameos from Rishi Dhawan, Shahrukh Khan, and Harpreet Brar gave their innings the final push. However, until the final two overs of Punjab Kings' innings, KKR had a stranglehold on the situation. By the 16th over, Sunil Narine had been discreetly bowled out for 0/29. Except for luring Sam Curran into a top-edging drag sweep, Suyash Sharma conceded just 26 runs from his quota.

Varun Cakaravarthy, however, administered the decisive blows with his wrong'uns. Liam Livingstone was preparing a big shot in the sixth over of the game, but he was tricked by a googly that swiftly squared him up and crashed into his pads.

Then, in the thirteenth over, Jitesh Sharma attempted to run down a wide, good-length ball through third man, but he received an edge that Rahmanullah Gurbaz did an excellent job of catching. When Rishi Dhawan was clean bowled by Chakaravarthy in the 17th over, KKR were perfectly positioned to restrict Punjab Kings to a manageable score. In the nineteenth over, however, Vaibhav Arora squandered the momentum by delivering either too full or too short and conceding three boundaries.

Harshit Rana had conceded 12 runs in his first two overs, but Shahrukh Khan dominated him in the final over by smashing a slower delivery well over the long-on fence. The following delivery, KKR brought up the off-side field, but Harshit gave width, enabling Khan to cut him behind point for a four. This altered Harshit's lengths, as he conceded another boundary and a six off the penultimate delivery of an over that cost KKR 21 runs.

Jason Roy began KKR's pursuit with intent, flicking Arshdeep Singh for four and then collecting two boundaries off Rishi. But Gurbaz supplied the impetus by first shuffling across the stumps and flicking Arshdeep over deep fine-leg for a six, followed by a straight drive for four. Another boundary through extra cover off the final ball swiftly established a solid foundation for KKR's chase. In contrast, Nathan Ellis captured Gurbaz in front in the fifth over, followed by Roy in the deep in the eighth over.

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Those two dismissals slowed down KKR's run rate to the point where they were 76/2 at the halfway point. Nitish Rana enlivened the chase with two fours and a six off Livingstone in the eleventh over, followed by two fours off Curran. However, he was dismissed against the run of play while attempting to reverse sweep Rahul Chahar, only to spear a top edge that Livingstone caught brilliantly after covering nearly ten yards.

Russell enters the game with KKR requiring 65 off 38. Before Rinku smashed Ellis over deep square leg for a tremendous six, Ellis was hit through wide midwicket for a boundary. Once Arshdeep was struck for 10 runs, KKR reduced the equation to 26 from 12 before Russell went on a rampage, smashing Curran for three sixes in the nineteenth over.