CSK vs KKR: 5 reasons why Kolkata Knight Riders lost

KKR went on to lose the game even after setting a target of 203

The fifth match of IPL 2018 was a repeat of the final of 2012. M.S Dhoni-led Chennai Superkings took on the young Kolkata side led by Dinesh Karthik.

As has been the trend in this year’s IPL, CSK won the toss and elected to field first. Kolkata managed to amass 64 runs of the powerplay overs but in the process lost the crucial wickets of Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine.

Wickets fell at regular intervals thereafter and KKR were reduced to 89/5 at one point. However, some belligerent hitting by Andre Russell ensured that KKR would post the first 200+ score of this IPL.

Chasing a stiff target of 203, Chennai’s openers came out all guns blazing and posted an excellent score of 75 after the powerplay overs.

However, it all went downhill from there as Kolkata’s mystery spinners exercised total control. Victory looked highly unlikely for CSK but Sam Billings had different plans.

In an absolute humdinger of a contest, CSK came home with a ball to spare. Let us have a look at the five reasons why the Kolkata Knight Riders lost the contest.

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#1 Openers flatter to deceive

KKR are heavily dependant on Lynn and Narine to give them a good start

Lynn and Narine have formed a formidable opening partnership for KKR in recent games. Both got off to a reasonable start today with Narine smashing two sixes in the first over itself.

However, he would depart soon after to an ugly hoick off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh. Lynn too played some fine strokes but was out attempting a wild swing across the line of the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja.

KKR are heavily dependent on these two as they lack in power hitters down the order. They need to be more responsible with their strokes. This all or nothing approach may not work every day.

#2 Middle overs collapse

Quick wickets that fell in the middle overs applied the brakes on KKR

Kolkata got off to a reasonable start with the scorecard reading 64/2 after the first six overs. However, they soon lost the plot as their middle-order collapsed. Nitish Rana was a bit unlucky as his inside edge was deflected off thigh pad straight into the safe hands of Dhoni.

Some brilliant display of fielding by Suresh Raina accounted for the wicket of Robin Uthappa while the young Rinku Singh gave the simplest of catches to Dwayne Bravo at the point.

This flurry of wickets applied the brakes on the scoring rate of KKR.

#3 Powerful Powerplay

Watson and Rayudu attacked the KKR bowlers from the

get go

Chasing a target of 203 runs in 20 overs, the Chennai openers started to go after Kolkata’s bowling from the very first over.

Shane Watson smashed 16 runs off Vinay Kumar’s first over and made his intentions pretty clear.

He was ably supported from the other end by Ambati Rayadu who took a heavy toll on the leggie Piyush Chawla.

He blasted Chawla for 17 runs in the fourth over of the chase. When Watson got out on the penultimate ball of the powerplay, Chennai had accumulated 75 runs.

This is the highest score in the powerplay overs in this year’s IPL.

#4 Billings catch dropped

Billings' innings proved to be the difference between the two sides

Sam Billings is rated very highly in English cricket. Today he showed everyone just why. Having come in to bat in a desperate situation, Billings played the innings of his life.

However, Kolkata had a chance to send him back to the hut when he was batting on 9. Billings tried to lift a full delivery of Tom Curran over Uthappa but did not get the desired elevation.

The ball went at a catchable height to Uthappa who tipped it over the bar! That miss was to prove decisive as Billings went on to smash 56 runs off just 23 balls.

In the end, his innings proved to be the difference between the sides.

#5 Poor death bowling

Russell did not have a good day with the ball

If one takes a look at Kolkata’s squad, it is very evident that they do not have an accomplished death over bowler.

With the injury to Mitchell Starc, KKR bought Curran with the hope that he would take care of the death overs. However, he failed to deliver when needed the most.

He was smashed around the park by his fellow countryman Billings who hit him for three sixes.

Russell who had a dream day with the bat, could not execute his yorkers and was smashed for 15 runs of the 18th over.

17 runs were needed off the last over. Vinay Kumar bowled a waist high full toss and Bravo duly obliged, depositing him over the boundary on the very first ball.

Vinay Kumar missed his length again on the penultimate delivery and Jadeja lofted him over long on resulting in a famous victory for the Superkings.