Rinku Singh showcased an impressive performance, scoring an unbeaten 83 runs and taking five catches as Kolkata Knight Riders narrowly defeated Lucknow Super Giants in a thrilling Super Over contest during the latest IPL match.
The unheralded Indian left-arm pacer, Mohsin Khan, delivered a standout bowling performance with figures of 5-23, restricting Kolkata to 155-7 at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium. Despite Kolkata struggling at 93-7, Rinku’s aggressive 51-ball innings, which included four consecutive sixes in the final over, rescued his team.
Kolkata captain Ajinkya Rahane expressed delight at the victory, praising Rinku’s phenomenal performance and the team’s resilience in turning the match around.
Lucknow’s chase started slowly, with early wickets falling before Aiden Markram and skipper Rishabh Pant stabilized the innings. With Lucknow needing 17 runs in the final over, a valiant effort by Himmat Singh and Mohammed Shami took the match to a tie.
In the Super Over, spinner Sunil Narine’s two quick wickets restricted Lucknow to just one run. Rinku sealed the win for Kolkata with a decisive shot.
Lucknow’s loss pushed them to the bottom of the points table, while Kolkata climbed to eighth place after securing only their second win of the season.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Lucknow skipper Pant acknowledged the need for a break to regroup and find solutions internally.
Rinku’s impact extended beyond his batting, as he took remarkable catches in the field, including a spectacular grab to dismiss Markram. Mohsin Khan’s fiery spell was marred by a rare obstructing the field dismissal of Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
Rinku’s partnership with Cameron Green and his solo effort guided Kolkata to a competitive total. In the day’s earlier match, Kagiso Rabada’s excellent bowling helped Gujarat Titans secure an eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings.
