IPL 2021, KKR vs SRH: Kolkata fights through Hyderabad by 6 wickets to stay in playoffs race

Kolkata Knight Riders stayed in the race for playoffs by defeating SunRisers Hyderabad by six wickets in the IPL 2021 clash in Dubai on Sunday. KKR has consolidated its fourth spot.

Former champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pulled off a dull yet thrilling game, as it defeated fellow former champion SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets in Match 49 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. KKR remains in the fourth spot and is still bidding to make it to the playoffs.

Winning the toss, SRH skipper Kane Williamson elected to bat, as he made a change, bringing in Umran Malik, while KKR skipper Eoin Morgan too made a change, bringing in all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. As SRH came out for the bat, it was off to a jumpy start, losing openers Wriddhimman Saha (0) and Jason Roy (10) within the Powerplay, with just 16 runs on the board, while the former's leg-before dismissal could have been avoided had he reviewed it.

Although it was followed by a 22-run stand between Williamson (26) and Priyam Garg (21), the former was run out in the seventh. At 51, Abhishek Sharma (6) was stumped off Shakib in the 11th, while 19 runs later, spinner Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Garg.

There were barely any partnerships thereon. SRH kept losing wickets at regular intervals, with most of the latter half of the team being dismissed in single figures, except Abdul Samad (25).

Eventually, SRH managed to finish at a below-par total of 115/8. On the other hand, KKR utilised five bowlers, with Tim Southee, Shivam Mavi and Chakravarthy claiming a couple each, while mystery spinner Sunil Narine nailed it with his economy.

Coming out for the chase, KKR started slow, losing Venkatesh Iyer (8) to pacer Jason Holder in the fifth over, with 23 runs on the board. Rahul Tripathi (7), too, departed to spinner Rashid Khan just 15 runs later in the seventh.

However, Shubman Gill (57) and Nitish Rana (25) contributed to a 55-run stand for the third wicket to put KKR in advantage before the former fell to pacer Siddharth Kaul in the 17th, followed by the latter to Holder in the following over, at 106. However, the pair of Dinesh Karthik (18*) and Morgan (2*) saw it through, with just a couple of balls to spare.

SRH put five bowlers into the attack, with Holder claiming a couple, while Kaul possessed the best economy.
Brief scores: SRH 115/8 (Williamson- 26; Southee- 2/26, Chakravarthy- 2/26) lost to KKR 119/4 in 19.4 overs (Gill- 57; Holder- 2/32) by six wickets.