Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have etched their names in the annals of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by becoming the first team to secure a spot in the playoffs. In a thrilling encounter at their iconic home ground, Eden Gardens, KKR emerged victorious with an 18-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI), marking their ninth win of the season.

The contest, initially slated for a full 20 overs, was curtailed to a 16-overs-a-side affair due to persistent evening rain. Mumbai Indians, having won the toss, opted to field first. The match took off with a bang as Phil Salt from KKR sent the first delivery, bowled by Nuwan Thushara, soaring over long-off for a six. However, Salt’s explosive start was short-lived as he was caught out in the same over while attempting another big hit over fine-leg.

Jasprit Bumrah, leading MI’s bowling attack, brought early breakthroughs. In the second over, Sunil Narine misjudged a full delivery that swung in sharply, dismantling the stumps, reducing KKR to a precarious 10 for two wickets. With the team in trouble, Venkatesh Iyer stepped up to counterattack. Despite a scare when he appeared to have injured himself in the fourth over, Venkatesh fought on, smashing two fours and a six off Bumrah’s bowling, stabilizing KKR’s innings.

Shreyas Iyer’s stint was cut short by Anshul Kamboj, who bowled him around his legs. Enter Nitish Rana, returning from injury, to join Venkatesh in the middle. Together, they navigated through KKR’s innings, which saw wickets fall at regular intervals, preventing the establishment of any significant partnerships.

Venkatesh’s aggressive 21-ball 42 laid the foundation for KKR’s innings before he was dismissed by Piyush Chawla in the ninth over, caught by Suryakumar Yadav. Andre Russell then took the stage, smashing his second ball over long-on for a six, in typical Russell fashion. Nitish Rana contributed a steady 33 before being run-out in the 12th over.

Contributions from the middle and lower order, including 24 off 14 balls from Russell, 20 off 12 balls from Rinku Singh, and an unbeaten 17 off eight balls, featuring a last-ball six by Ramandeep Singh, propelled KKR to a competitive 157 for seven. Piyush Chawla stood out in MI’s bowling lineup with figures of two for 28 in his three overs. Bumrah claimed two wickets for 39 runs in his four overs, reclaiming the purple cap.

Join Get ₹99!

. Kamboj was also economical, taking one wicket for 24 runs in his three overs.

Mumbai Indians’ chase began with Ishan Kishan setting a blistering pace in the powerplay, racing to 37 off only 17 balls. The first five overs saw MI amass 59 runs, with Harshit Rana conceding 15 runs in the fourth over and Narine being hit for a six and a four in the fifth over. MI seemingly had the upper hand as Kishan appeared in formidable form while Rohit Sharma rotated the strike steadily after an early six off a free-hit by Vaibhav Arora.

KKR’s spinners turned the game in the middle overs. Narine struck first, having Ishan caught at deep midwicket for 40 in the seventh over. Varun Chakaravarthy then accounted for Rohit, who was caught at short fine-leg by Narine. By the 10th over, MI’s momentum had stalled, and they were 81 for two, pinning hopes on Suryakumar Yadav. However, Russell removed Suryakumar in the 11th over, caught at deep square-leg, dealing a significant blow to MI’s chase.

KKR continued to apply pressure with disciplined bowling and crucial wickets. Chakaravarthy delivered an economical spell, giving away just 17 runs in his four overs while claiming two wickets. Narine bowled three overs, taking one wicket for 21 runs. Russell’s dual role of scoring runs and taking vital wickets, including Tim David for a duck, proved invaluable for KKR.

Tilak Varma kept MI’s hopes alive with a gritty performance, but the asking rate escalated. With 41 needed off the last two overs, Naman Dhir’s aggressive batting briefly revived MI’s chances. Yet, Harshit Rana bowled a remarkable final over, dismissing Dhir and Varma to secure KKR’s victory.

The crowd at Eden Gardens erupted in celebration as KKR clinched another memorable win in what has been a stellar season for the team. With five victories out of seven matches at their home ground, KKR heads into the playoffs with considerable momentum and confidence.

By IPL Agent

💲Daily Check-In Free Bonus💲 💵 Sign Up & Login everyday to get free cash!💵 👉 cricket1.in