Lucknow Super Giants sealed their berth in the IPL 2023 playoffs with a 1-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.
Put in to bat first by KKR, LSG scored 176 for 8 in their 20 overs to restrict KKR to 175 for 7 with 2 points on offer and the qualification that comes with it.
Read this also ‘Namumkin Nahi Inke Liye Koi Kaam’: Rinku Singh Shines Despite KKR’s Loss to LSG
But, KKR’s revelation of the season, Rinku Singh almost completed a turnaround as he almost took the Bengal side home with an unbeaten 67 off just 33 balls.
About a month back, Rinku repeated his feat against Gujarat Titans when he smashed GT bowler Yash Dayal for five sixes off the last 5 balls of the game to hand KKR a win.
Rinku had dismissed Naveen-ul-Haq for 20 in the 19th over and KKR needed 21 off the last over to win as Yash Thakur was set to bowl the final over of the game.
KKR player Umesh Yadav took a single on the first ball of the last over and the equation became 20 runs in 5 balls. Yash followed it up with a wide delivery and the requirement was reduced from 5 to 19 for KKR.
Yash Thakur bowled two dot balls under pressure and gave another wide after scoring 19 runs in 3 balls. With a target of 18 in 3, it looked like familiar territory for Rinku, who managed to hit a six off the very next ball.
12 off 2 and every KKR fan was praying for Rinku. But, Yash Thakur came up with a wide yorker of length, which the Kolkata batsman dispatched for four. 8 for 1 and Rinku hits the final ball of the game over the ropes and comes close to another famous win, but eventually, LSG hold on and win.
Read this also Gambhir, Shreyas Iyer salute ‘sensational talent’ Rinku for almost helping KKR to loot
LSG reached 17 points for the season after their 14 outings in the league stage of the money-rich tournament and secured their spot in the playoffs.