IPL 2018: KKR posts a much-needed victory

On a batting belter, KKR posted a mammoth 245 for 6, their highest ever total and fourth-highest in the history of the league.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Sunil Narine plays a shot during the IPL match against Kings XI Punjab in Indore on Saturday.

When Kings XI Punjab’s coach Brad Hodge talked of creating history on the eve of the match against Kolkata Knight Riders, he may not have thought that his team would be at the receiving end of it.

He was hoping that the KXIP men, if they won the toss, would bowl first and chase down a record target — if it came down to that — and make IPL history at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

They won the toss, all right, but that was about the only thing they got right on this hot day.

It turned out to be a memorable day for KKR, as it posted a badly-needed victory — by 31 runs — to stay in contention for a place in the playoffs. Thanks in no small measure to Narine, it is now fourth with 12 points, the same tally as KXIP, which, however, has played a game less and is third. Narine cracked a 36-ball 75 to power KKR to 245 for six — its biggest ever total, and fourth highest, in the IPL.

When KXIP began its chase of a total that had never been surpassed before in the IPL, its best hope was a surreal innings from the classy K.L. Rahul. The opener had, in his last two visits to the crease, made 179 runs without being dismissed.

In the first over, he stepped out off successive balls and cleared the off-side fence, giving Narine a taste of his own medicine.

But, in his second spell, Narine had his revenge. With his carrom ball, he had Rahul (66, 29b) bowled while trying to sweep.

It was all over, more or less, for the host. Andre Russell had used his bouncers intelligently to dismiss fellow-Jamaican Chris Gayle and Mayank Agarwal off successive balls before having Karun Nair caught at long-on.

Earlier, Russell, promoted up the order, had slammed 31 off 14 balls after the foundation was laid by Narine and Chris Lynn who put on 53 in 5.2 overs. Captain Dinesh Karthik hammered 50 off just 23 balls.

Narine had been a given a tough chance early on though, but Mujeeb Ur Rahman failed to hold on to the sharp chance off his own bowling. The in-form Afghan spinner was also injured in the process and had to end his over abruptly. So on came Ashwin, whose first ball was sweetly timed for a six over long-on by Narine. The Narine show was underway.