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Patna : Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 2 runs in a dramatic finish to the 24th match of IPL 2020 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE, on October 10, 2020. Electing to bat after winning the toss, KKR scored a modest 164/6 in 20 overs and then restricted KXIP to 162/5 in 20 overs with fast bowler Prasidha Krishna, 24. taking 3/29 in 4 overs while spinner Sunil Narine took 2/28 in 4 overs. It was KKR’s 4th win in 6 matches in IPL 2020. For, KXIP , it was their 6th defeat in 7 matches.
Chasing a target of 165 runs, KXIP appeared cruising along well with its openers Lokesh Rahul (captain) and Mayank Agarwal adding 115 runs for the first wicket in 14.2 overs. But, Mayank fell to Prasidh for 56 in 39 balls with 6 fours and a six. Nicholas Pooran was next to go. He was bowled by Sunil Narine for 16 in 10 balls hitting 2 fours and a six and it was 144/2.
Simran Singh (wk) fell to Prasidh for 4 making it 149/3 in 18.4 overs. Lokesh Rahul was then bowled by Prasidh for 74 in 58 balls and it was 151/4 in 19 overs. KXIP needed 14 runs in last over. But, Mandeep Singh fell to Narine for zero making it 158/5 in 19.5 overs. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell remained unbeaten on 10 in 5 balls with 2 fours. KXIP needed 7 on last ball of the match which Maxwell could hit for a four only. The KXIP thus lost a match which they should have won quite easily.
Earlier batting first KKR scored 164/6 with captain Dinesh Karthik (wk) scoring 58 in 29 balls hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes while opener Shubhman Gill scored 57 in 47 balls with 5 fours. Karthik was run out. Nitish Rana was also run out for 2. Andre Russel fell to Arshdeep Singh for 5 continuing his flop show this IPL. Eoin Morgan fell to spinner Ravi Bishnoi for 24 in 23 balls with 2 fours and 1 six.