IPL 2018: KKR thrash Kings XI by 31 runs
Kolkata Knight Riders secured a 31 run victory over Kings XI Punjab to go level on points with their opponents. Batting first, DK and his men posted a massive total of 245/6. Sunil Narine gave a perfect start with his 75-run knock off 36 balls. In response, the Kings XI could only manage 214/8. Here are the important stats of this fixture.
KKR score 245, their highest score in the IPL
Kolkata Knight Riders sent Kings XI bowlers on a leather hunt from the very beginning. Sunil Narine was the wrecker in chief scoring 75 off 36 balls at a massive strike rate of 208. He scored 4 sixes and 9 fours. Knight Riders captain Dinesh Karthik piled more misery on Punjab's bowlers as he hit a half-century off 23 balls.
Rahul's heroics go in vain as Kings XI fall short
Kings XI started the chase well with KL Rahul and Chris Gayle reaching the 50 run mark without losing a wicket but then Russell struck thrice and the Kings XI batting line-up crumbled. Rahul was their lone hope as he kept striking the ball cleanly to score a brilliant half-century before Narine got the better of him. He scored 66 runs off 29 balls.
Kolkata batsmen were on fire tonight
KKR reached the 200-run-mark in just 16.3 overs, making it the third fastest effort in IPL. RCB had achieved it in 14.3 overs against KXIP (2017) and again in 15.5 overs against Pune (2013). KKR's 245 is the highest total in IPL without a century and the joint second-highest in T20s. The biggest total, without a century, is 260 (SL vs Kenya) in 2007.
KL Rahul second player to cross 500-run mark
KL Rahul is now the second batsman after Rishabh Pant to score 500+ runs in this IPL Andrew Tye is only the third bowler in IPL history to claim consecutive four-wicket hauls. Shadab Jakati in 2009 and Munaf Patel in 2012 are the other bowlers to achieve this feat.
