KKR virtually seal last playoffs berth; Mumbai all but out of race

Sharjah, October 7

Kolkata Knight Riders produced a clinical performance to beat Rajasthan Royals by a massive 86-run margin and virtually assure their playoffs berth in the Indian Premier League here today.

With three playoffs spots — Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings and Royals Challengers Bangalore — already sealed, KKR consolidated their position for the fourth spot, finishing their round-robin engagements with 14 points from 14 games with an impressive net run rate of 0.587.

With 12 points from 13 matches, defending champions Mumbai Indians are the only side still in the playoffs race but an impossible task awaits them. The need to win by 171 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last game tomorrow to dislodge KKR from the fourth spot.

Shubman Gill (56 off 44) hit a second consecutive fifty as KKR registered the highest score at the venue this season, posting 171/4 after being put in to bat.

KKR bowlers, led by pacers Shivam Mavi and Lockie Ferguson, ran through the RR batting line-up to secure a big win.

The lord of Kings

Dubai: KL Rahul saved his best for the last as his unbeaten 98 off 42 balls, which for a change was full on intent quotient, helped Punjab Kings crush Chennai Super Kings by six wickets. Chasing 135, the Punjab team stormed to victory in 13 overs as the CSK skipper MS Dhoni could not find answers to stop Rahul’s onslaught.

Skipper Rahul was on the attack from the word go, launching into the CSK bowlers. The stylish right-hander clobbered eight sixes to go with seven boundaries.

Brief scores: CSK: 134/6 (du Plessis 76; Arshdeep 2/35, Jordan 2/20) vs PBKS: 139/4 in 13 overs (Rahul 98 not out; Thakur 3/28); KKR: 171/4 (Gill 56; Sakariya 1/23 vs RR: 85 all out in 16.1 overs (Tewatia 44; Mavi 4/21, Ferguson 3/18). — PTI

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