IPL-2023: Lucknow Super Giants beat KKR by just one run: Become 3rd team to qualify for IPL playoffs

IPL-2023: Lucknow Super Giants defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by one run at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and become the third team to qualify for the IPL playoffs.

Chasing a target of 176 runs set by Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders scored 175 runs in the stipulated 20 Overs for the loss of 7 wickets.

With 17 points, Lucknow is behind champions Gujarat Titans 18 points and Chennai Super Kings 17 points. Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians are trying their best to seal final spot.

Kolkata Knight Riders had come into this match with a glimmer of hope. A distant dream of conjuring a miracle that could drive them into the final. However, an inspired, scrappy batting effort from LSG under pressure, and a bowling unit that took regular wickets and held their nerve at the business end, helped LSG sneak into the playoffs. The loss for KKR meant that they crashed out of this competition, albeit with their heads held high after yet another gallant chase, courtesy Rinku Singh – arguably the find of the season.

In fact, it was a bit of a sedate start before Harshit Rana got rid of Karan Sharma, who ended up getting late on the hook to a short ball and handed Shardul Thakur an easy catch. However, the arrival of Prerak Mankad made Quinton de Kock open up too, and they hammered the KKR bowlers for the rest of the powerplay, scoring 40 runs in 21 balls in that phase post the dismissal of Karan Sharma, ending up with a strong 54-1 at the end of the sixth over.