KKR vs PBKS IPL 2023: In the 53rd match of IPL 2023, Kolkata Knight Riders has defeated Punjab Kings by a margin of five wickets. Shikhar Dhawan opted to bat first after winning the toss at the latter’s home ground, Eden Gardens. He led through the pack with an impressive 57-run knock as his team posted 179/7 on board with some late flourish as well. In response, KKR managed to chase down the target on the last ball. This also ensures back-to-back victories for KKR, making sure that they are technically still alive in the tournament with ten points.
KKR pulls off a magnificent chase
In the chase of 180 runs, KKR began with an ideal start in the match. Opener Jason Roy played a quick-fire knock of 38 runs in 24 balls, hitting 8 boudnaries. In the powerplay, KKR managed to score 52 runs while losing one wicket. Gurbaz had a poor outing as he scored 15 runs off 12 balls. Skipper Nitish Rana played a handy knock of 51 runs in 38 balls, hitting six boudnaries and a solitary six.
Andre Russell played a sublime knock of 42 off 23 balls, hitting three boundaries and as many maximums as he once again led his team to victory in a stylish manner. Rinku Singh accompanied him well with 21* off 10 balls and hit the winning runs for the team. Rahul Chahar picked a couple of wickets while Nathan Ellis & Harpreet Brar picked a wicket each as well.
Shikhar Dhawan leads the charge again
Earlier, Punjab Kings won the toss and chose to bat first in the game. However, not many of the batters could do much significant. Skipper Shikhar Dhawan once again led the charge and scored 57 off 47 balls, hitting 9 fours and 1 six. PBKS managed to score 58 runs inside the powerplay but they also lost three wickets in the process. This was also the 50th fifty for Shikhar in the tournament.
Prabhsimran scored 12 while Rajapaksha was dismissed on a three-ball duck. Livingstone, who appeared dangerous at one spot, was dismissed for a score of 15 runs in 9 balls. Jitesh Sharam steadied the partnership with Shikhar by scoring 21 of 18 balls. Meanwhile, it was yet another poor innings from Sam Curran, who could manage to score just 4 off 9 balls.
A late flourish of runs came in the end as Rishi Dhawan’s 19 off 11, Harpreet Brar’s 17* off 9 meanwhile Shahrukh Khan’s 21* off 8 balls ensured a high total for their team. Chakravarthy grabbed a three-wicket haul while Harshit Rana grabbed a couple of wickets as well. Suyash Sharma & Nitish Rana also picked a wicket each.
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