In Short
- KKR were fined for their first over-rate offence in IPL 2023
- Nitish Rana was slapped with a fine of Rs 12 lakh
- KKR defeated PBKS to move to 5th spot in IPL points table
By India Today Sports DeskKolkata Knight Riders captain Nitish Rana was fined Rs 12 lakh for slow over-rate in KKR’s thrilling last-over win over Punjab Kings in Kolkata in an IPL 2023 match on Monday, May 9. Rana was fined Rs 12 lakh for his team’s first offense of the season under the IPL’s code of conduct relating to minimum over-rate offenses, the league said in a statement.
Rinku Singh added to his reputation as an expert finisher with a last-ball boundary as Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Punjab Kings by five wickets on May 8 night to keep their IPL play-off hopes alive. Skipper Rana’s half-century and Andre Russell’s exploits were followed by Rinku’s 10-ball 21 not out as KKR completed a 180-run chase at home.
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Varun Chakravarthy led their bowling attack with 3 for 26 as KKR bowled well to restrict PBKS to a below-par 179 for seven after the visitors chose to bat on a slow wicket. KKR defeated Punjab Kings by five wickets, chasing down the 180-run winning target off the last ball of the innings, with Russell scoring a 23-ball 43 studded with three fours and as many maximums.
Russell punished PBKS quick Sam Curran in the penultimate over of the innings, hitting the England bowler for three sixes before the West Indian was run out, leaving Rinku Singh to score the winning runs. Rinku smashed a boundary of the last ball to win the match for KKR.
“Ten matches have gone, we were all waiting for that one Russell innings to come. He was one innings away, I kept backing him saying you have done a lot, and you will 100 per cent win us a game,” said Nitish Rana.
Rana also conceded he was angry with his bowlers conceding runs in the last couple of overs to let PBKS score a competitive 179/7.
“This pitch was a feel of home advantage as well. Our bowlers bowled badly at the death, I was angry that we conceded that many because this was a 160-165 run wicket. Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan lamented the lack of a quality off-spinner in his side, though leg-spinner Rahul Chahar did bowl a tight spell.
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