Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Indian Premier League 2020 Match 24: In Pics

It took an absolute tank job from KXIP to get this done. They had the game in their hands but let it slip away from 115/0 in 14 overs. 

With 14 runs needed from the final over, Narine removed Mandeep Singh for a duck. It came down to six from the final ball to tie the scores but Maxwell could only muster a boundary - the ball falling just inches short off the boundary line. KXIP lost their fifth game on the trot and would need an absolute miracle to reach the playoofs now. 

(Image credits: Twitter/@KKRiders)

KXIP lost Nicholas Pooran in the 18th over for 16 off 10 balls (4x2, 6x1).  He was bowled by fellow Trinidadian Sunil Narine. Only 21 were needed from 16 balls after his dismissal. But, in a strange decision, the KXIP management sent in newbie Prabhsimran Singh ahead of the seasoned Glenn Maxwell. 

Prabhsimran didn't really help matters as he played three dot balls on the trot to put the pressure back on his side. 20 were needed from 12 balls but Prasidh Krishna bolwed a magnificient penultimate over where he removed both Prabhsimran and the set KL Rahul -giving away only 6 runs. It all boiled down to 14 needed from the final 6 balls. (Image credits: Twitter/@IPL)

In the second ball of the 15th over, KKR finally got their opening breakthrough when Mayank Agarwal tried to go big on the leg side but ended up giving a straight catch to Shubman Gill on a slower ball. The opening partnership yielded 115 runs for KXIP and at that moment it seemed like it was too late for KKR to stage a comeback. But destiny, as they say, had other plans. 

(Image credits: Twitter/@IPL)

Agarwal followed his skipper-friend KL Rahul and completed his fifty. While Rahul played the role of the sheet anchor, Mayank was the aggressor as he imposed himself against the KKR bowlers. He continued his fantastic run in the tournament with a knock of 58 (off 39 balls; 4x6, 6x1). 

(Image credits: Twitter/@IPL)

KL Rahul led his side from the front with a anchoring knock of 74 from 58 balls (4x6). He played some textbook strokes across the ground and didn't try to hit the ball in the air. He stitched a majest 115-run opening stand with Mayank Agarwal. He retained the orange cap after the game with this knock.  (Image credits: Twitter/@IPL)

The in-form duo of skipper KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal gave a very solid start to KXIP. They did not take any unnecessary risks and looked completely at ease against the KKR pacers. KKR were handed a big blow when Andre Russell was injured while fileding one in the deep and immediately hobbled off the field, leaving them a bowler short. 

Adding insult to injury, Rahul and Agarwal continued their frolics as they engaged in a brilliant stand of 115 runs. KKR bowlers had no answers against the technical mastery of the KXIP opening duo. 

(Image credits: Twitter/@IPL)

KKR posted a competitive total of 164/6 against Kings XI Punjab thanks to fifties from Shubman Gill and Dinesh Karthik. After a stuttering start, the duo mounted a strong comeback for their side. 

For KXIP, Arshdeep Singh (4-1-25-1) and Ravi Bishnoi (4-0-25-1) were the highlights in the bowling department. 

(Image credits: Twitter/@IPL)

KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik was on fire right from the time he came to the crease. He came to the pitch with KKR's innings stuttering at 63/3 in 10.4 Overs. He got into the act straightaway and timed the ball beautifully - All KXIP bowlers were taken to the cleaners as Karthik raced away to his fifty in just 22 balls. He engaged in a rapid 82-run stand with Shubman Gill, which set the tone for his side's competitive total on a slow pitch in Abu Dhabi. 

Karthik finished his innings at 58 (off 29 balls; 4x8, 6x2)

(Image credits: Twitter/@IPL)

Shubman Gill played a composed innings of 57 from 47 balls (4x5). He engaged in fighting stands with Eoin Morgan first and then followed it up with a crucial 82-run stand with skipper Dinesh Karthik. He especially needed this innngs as he was involved with Nitish Rana's run-out early on. Even though the pitch was slow, Gill ensured that he kept rotating the strike. 

(Image credits: Twitter/@IPL)

Eoin Morgan was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi to break the 49-run partnership between Morgan and Gill. The duo had started to look dangerous with Morgan playing some brilliant unorthodox shots. Morgan tried to go big but miscued his timing on the wrong one from Bishnoi. The googly did the trick as Morgan was way too early into the shot and Maxwell completed the catch at long-on.

(Image credits: Twitter/@IPL)

Rahul Tripathi was bowled for 4 (off 8 balls) by Mohammad Shami in the third over. Tripathi never really looked settled in his stay. He looked very clumsy. After being at 0 from 8 balls, he managed to pull one for four against Shami but Shami responded by rattling the stumps. Tripathi's middle stump went cartwheeling to the wicketkeeper. KXIP bolwers gave a good account of themselves in the opening overs, with KKR reaching just 25/2 after the first 6 overs.

(Image credits: Twitter/@IPL)

Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and opted to bat first against Kings XI Punjab. They also made one change into their playing XI. Seamer Prasidh Krishna replaced his contemporary Shivam Mavi. Mavi missed out with a niggle. 

KKR wanted to shift gears coming into this one. While they had managed to win three of their five games, those victories weren't comprehensive enough to justify their star studded lineup. 

(Image credits: Twitter/@IPL)

Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and opted to bat first against Kings XI Punjab. Kings XI made one change to their playing XI from their last game. They brought in pacer Chris Jordan to replace the injured Sheldon Cottrell. This meant that star opener Chris Gayle will still stay on the bench for this one. Gayle would have started their last game but was withdrawn because of some illness, as per their coach Anil Kumble. 

KXIP came into the game having lost their last four games on the trot and sat at the bottom position in the points table. They desperately needed a win if they wanted any stake in the playoffs later. (Image credits: Twitter/@IPL)