Picture Credit: PTI
The 15th match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ended in a thrilling fashion. While KKR nearly pulled off a sensational chase, CSK bowlers kept their calm and managed an 18-run win at the end in Mumbai.
CSK got off to a flying start with Ruturaj Gaikwad (64 off 42) and Faf du Plessis (95* off 60) adding 115 runs for the opening wicket. Alongside them, quick cameos from Moeen Ali (25) and MS Dhoni (17) took them to a huge total of 220 in their allotted 20 overs.
Meanwhile, KKR's chase started in a horrifying manner where pace spearhead Deepak Chahar removed four batsmen from the top of the order and reduced KKR to 31/5 in the powerplay during their 221-run chase. While everyone started thinking that the match was already on CSK's court by then, KKR players Karthik, Russel and Pat Cummins had some other plans.
Both Karthik and Russel steadied the ship and added 50 runs in no time. Their onslaught took the team to 112 within 11.2 overs. Later, Karthik (40) and towards the end, Cummins (66*) tried their hearts out but lack of support from the other end saw their efforts went in vain and KKR lost the game by 18 runs.
Andre Russel and Dinesh Karthik's partnership was "unbelievable": Eoin Morgan
However, despite the loss, Eoin Morgan backed his team in a video shared by the Kolkata Knight Riders on their official Instagram account.
“Are you heartbroken?’ Cummins was asked. “Yes, let in too many runs with the ball”, he again shared. “But scored as many with the bat”, he said. “One good over with the ball and we would have won… Anyway, that’s cricket”.
Morgan said: “First 5-6 overs did hurt us, but the beauty of today, and playing here reiterates that we are never out of any game. We have an unbelievable squad, unbelievable talent that matches any team in the competition, and if we need reminding of that, today is the game where it happens,” he added.
“Dre [Andre Russell], DK [Dinesh Karthik] for that partnership [81 off just 39], absolutely unbelievable. Well done guys and Pat”, concluded Morgan.