Indian batsman Rinku Singh played a spectacular knock, blasting five sixes on the final five balls, to help Kolkata Knight Riders chase down 205 and stun champions Gujarat Titans in a thrilling Indian Premier League match on Sunday. The left-hander’s unbeaten 21-ball 48 turned the chase on its head after Kolkata slipped to 155-7 following Rashid Khan’s hat-trick at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
Needing 29 runs from the final over off Yash Dayal, Rinku took strike after Umesh Yadav’s single on the first ball and sent five hits over the fence to silence a raucous home crowd. The chase was set up by a 40-ball 83 by impact player Venkatesh Iyer, who put on a 100-run third-wicket stand with skipper Nitish Rana, who made 45.
After Iyer fell to Alzarri Joseph and Rashid claimed his first Indian Premier League hat-trick by sending back Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Shardul Thakur, Rinku and Kolkata had the last laugh.
“It was another example that we will never give up as a team,” said Iyer after the three-wicket win. “The wicket was quite good to bat and I was just trying to execute my plans.”
Chasing Gujarat’s total of 204-4, which included Vijay Shankar’s 24-ball 63 with five sixes, Kolkata registered their second straight win and took second spot in the 10-team table, behind leaders Rajasthan Royals. It was the first defeat of the season for Gujarat, who won the league in their debut campaign last year.
Rashid, standing in as skipper for the unwell Hardik Pandya, said, “That is what T20 is all about, it is about entertainment.” But for Kolkata and Rinku, it was more than just entertainment as they pulled off an incredible victory.
Rinku Singh’s five sixes on the final five balls helped Kolkata Knight Riders secure a thrilling victory over Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. Venkatesh Iyer also played a crucial role in the chase with his 83-run knock, while Gujarat’s Vijay Shankar shone with his 63 runs. It was a remarkable win for Kolkata, who registered their second straight win of the season and moved up to second place in the league table.
