IPL 2023: Rinku Singh smashes 5 sixes in a row on last 5 balls as KKR chase down 205-run target vs GT
In a contender for the best match of IPL 2023, Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans were involved in a high-scoring thriller on Sunday, April 9. The game ebbed and flowed – had a hat-trick from Rashid Khan and a sensational finish from Rinku Singh, who hit 5 sixes in the final over.
The Narendra Modi Stadium witnessed a roller-coaster of emotions as there were plenty of individual brilliance, starting from Vijay Shankar’s stunning comeback knock of 63 from 24 balls. Impact Player Venkatesh Iyer hitting a brilliant 83 from just 40 balls with good support from captain Nitish Rana but the icing on the cake was Rinku Singh’s six-hitting show in the final over.
WATCH: Rinku Singh’s Last-over 5 sixes that Propelled Kolkata Knight Riders to Stunning Three-wicket win
Rinku Singh smashed 5 sixes in a row on the last five deliveries to help his team chase down a target of 205 against defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT). KKR needed 29 runs to win off the last over, which was bowled by Yash Dayal. It is the highest successful run chase in IPL 2023.
Singh produced arguably the greatest finish in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a stunning finish to a game in the history of the world’s richest cricket league.
Umesh Yadav took a single off the first ball to set Rinku up to do the impossible. The young batter scored five sixes in a row to ensure a memorable victory for KKR, as they registered their second win in a row while the defending champions suffered their first loss of the season.
IPL 2023 KKR vs GT: Roller coaster of a match in brief
After match-turner of an innings Rinku returned unbeaten on 48 off 21 balls, which featured six maximums. His effort also overpowered Rashid Khan’s hattrick, which the Gujarat stand-in skipper had claimed earlier in the innings. The Afghan spinner had removed Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Shardul Thakur to complete his maiden hattrick in IPL.
Earlier, Venkatesh Iyer (Impact Substitute) and Nitish Rana helped KKR recover from early blows in the chase. The pair added 100 runs for the third wicket before Alzarri Joseph removed Rana for 45(29). Joseph then removed Iyer for 83(40). KKR had lost both openers cheaply before the duo joined the chase.
Meanwhile, Vijay Shankar had crashed KKR’s party in the afternoon after Gujarat won the toss and opted to bat. He smashed an unbeaten 63 off 24 balls to power Gujarat to 204/4. Shankar hit four boundaries and five maximums, and all the 6s came in the final two overs.
It started with Shankar whacking Lockie Ferguson for a couple of maximums in the 19th over, before hammering Shardul Thakur for a hattrick of sixes in the final over. Apart from Shankar, Sai Sudharsan carried forward his rich form and smashed consecutive 50s. He was dismissed for 53 off 38 balls by Sunil Narine, who scalped three wickets in his full quota.
Also read: KKR Speedster Lockie Ferguson bowls the fastest delivery of IPL 2023
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