KKR vs PBKS Live Score, IPL 2023: Rinku Singh, Andre Russell takes KKR past finish line

KKR vs PBKS Live Score, IPL 2023, Match 53 Updates: Kolkata Knight Riders won by five wickets against Punjab Kings as the match went down to wire at the Eden Gardens. Arshdeep Singh bowled a brilliant last over when he was left with just six runs to defend. With his skilful length balls, Arshdeep forced the chase to two runs required on the last ball. But Rinku Singh ensured the two crucial points were pocketed by KKR as he flicked one toward deep backward square leg for a boundary against the full toss. Earlier in the chase, KKR skipper Nitish Rana scored 51 followed by the Andre Russell powerfire in the end. Russell slammed three sixes off Sam Curran in the penultimate over to bring the equation to 6 off 6. Follow KKR vs PBKS Live Score at Sportskeeda in IPL 2023.

So, that is it from myself, Karthik Raj and my co-commentator, Shashwat Kumar as we wrap up the proceedings of this fixture. Do follow the Spice Isle T10 which is going on currently. Otherwise, do join us tomorrow with a lot of action there with the IPL, Ireland vs Bangladesh 1st ODI all to be played out! Until next time, it is a warm good-bye!

Andre Russell, Player of the Match: We already discussed the ball was gripping. So we wanted to target the pacers. When we needed 30 off two overs, knew that we could definitely get it. Those two sixes and the other one that I cut over deep point gave us the momentum. I wanted to finish the game off, but we have a finisher this year in Rinku. I had full belief in Rinku that he can finish it off. Now, I have a partner at the end who can finish games that releases a lot of pressure. I get goosebumps seeing him doing what he's been doing. He is very disciplined, hard-working. Also a very funny guy, there is always a funny moment with him around

Live Score

Punjab Kings

179/7 (20)

Kolkata Knight Riders

182/5 (20)

Kolkata Knight Riders won by 5 wickets

Andre Russell has been named as the 'Player of the Match'

Nitish Rana (Kolkata Knight Riders captain): When I was batting, I wanted to have the strike and attack since Venky wasn't comfortable with his ankle. 10 matches went away, we were all waiting for that one Russell innings to come. It was always one innings away for him. We have full confidence in him. Our bowlers couldn't execute well at the death, I was upset that we conceded so many runs in the last two overs because this was a 160-165 run track. (Regarding Rinku and his heroics) I just keep telling him, believe in yourself because what you have achieved is something not many people will. When I came to KKR, I used to hear chants of 'Russell, Russell'. Now, when he was batting, the whole crowd was chanting 'Rinku, Rinku'. I was so happy with that

Rinku Singh: I didn't think about the last ball. Even when I hit those five sixes, I had a free mindset. I had the belief that I can win the game. Used to batting in different positions now, I also practice according to different scenarios.

Shikhar Dhawan, Punjab Kings captain: (On how he is feeling) Not feeling that great, we lost the game. It was not an easy track to bat, felt that we had a good total. At the end, they played well. (On Arshdeep) It was a phenomenal effort. It was great the way he bounced back after the last game. All credit to him that he took the game to the last ball. We don't have a good off-spinner, that is where we are leaking a bit of runs when left-handers come in. I think that is where we took the hit.

MATCH OVER!

Kolkata Knight Riders won by five wickets!

Kolkata Knight Riders 182-5 (20)

Nitish Rana 51 (38) | Andre Russell 42 (23)

Rahul Chahar 4-0-23-2 | Harpreet Brar 4-0-29-1

How does he do this again and again? Rinku Singh is the flavour of Kolkata this IPL! The KKR openers, Jason Roy and Rahmanullah Gurbaz started steadily until Nathan Ellis foxed the latter with a superb slower delivery in the 5th over. Roy still ensured that KKR had a good end to the Powerplay with him taking on the likes of Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone.

However, Roy's 38-run knock was brought to an end by Harpreet Brar with just his second delivery. Thereafter, Punjab managed to sneak in a couple of economical overs but the decision to bring back Livingstone for another proved costly as Rana managed to take the Englishman for 16 runs. Just as Rana managed to get going, he lost Venkatesh Iyer at the other end off Rahul Chahar's bowling. Chahar struck gold once again a couple of overs later as Punjab stormed back into the game.

The game continued to swing in different directions as both Andre Russell and Rinku Singh managed to fetch 15 runs off Ellis' bowling in the 17th over. Arshdeep followed it up with a decent over but Andre Russell reduced the entirety of the pressure by smashing 20 runs in the penultimate over bowled by Sam Curran. Needing to defend 6 off 6 balls, Arshdeep Singh stepped up and conceded just four runs off the first balls before he ran out Russell who tried to sneak in a bye. With two required off the final ball, Arshdeep delivered a full-toss and Rinku put it away to the fence like does so regularly these days!

End of over 20 (8 runs), Kolkata Knight Riders 182/5

Rinku Singh 21(10)
Shardul Thakur 0(0)
Arshdeep Singh 39/0

19.6 Arshdeep Singh to Rinku Singh

RINKU WINS IT FOR KKR! Full toss fired down the leg side. This time, Rinku holds his ground and shovels it past fine leg. One bounce and into the ropes! Catch Rinku if you can as he embarks on his celebratory run! He is there at the end for KKR again - just like he was in Ahmedabad weeks ago! And this topsy turvy game goes KKR's way, who are, believe it or not, level on points now with PBKS!

WOW! Drama here at the Eden Gardens! Andre Russell is run out and KKR need 2 off 1 ball with Rinku Singh on strike. Remarkable stuff from Arshdeep Singh!

19.5 Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell

RUSSELL IS RUN OUT! Excellent yorker outside off stump. Russell can't dig it out and misses. Jitesh collects cleanly and seeing that Rinku has already made it to the batter's end, lobs it towards Arshdeep. The bowler keeps his nerve and hits the stumps at the bowler's end, catching Russell just short of his ground!

19.4 Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell

full delivery outside off stump. Russell sits deep in his crease, gives it the lot and chips it over extra cover for a couple of runs

19.3 Arshdeep Singh to Rinku Singh

full toss that follows the batter outside leg stump. Rinku heaves it away towards deep backward square leg. Just another single

19.2 Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell

low full toss outside off stump. Russell throws the kitchen sink at it and slices it towards deep backward point for a single

19.1 Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell

dug into the track on middle and off stump. Russell...wait for it...wait for it even more....ducks underneath it!

Oh my god! Andre Russell has made the Eden Gardens crowd go berserk here! KKR only need 6 off the last six balls. Needless to say, KKR need to dismiss Russell

End of over 19 (20 runs), Kolkata Knight Riders 174/4

Andre Russell 39(19)
Rinku Singh 16(8)
Sam Curran 44/0

18.6 Sam Curran to Andre Russell

SAFE! Slower delivery dug into the track again. Russell jumps up onto his toes and forehands it on the bounce to deep cover point. Just a single

18.5 Sam Curran to Andre Russell

INTO THE STANDS AGAIN! Slow and short outside off stump. Russell picks the length very early and slams it over deep point for the third six of the over!

18.4 Sam Curran to Andre Russell

short delivery just outside off stump. Russell throws his hands at it but is awfully late on the stroke. Swish and a miss!

18.3 Sam Curran to Andre Russell

SIX MORE! INTO THE NIGHT SKY! Slot ball on leg stump and Russell is all over it like a rash! Russell clears his front leg and smokes it over cow corner!

18.2 Sam Curran to Andre Russell

WHAT A SHOT! In the slot and on the pads, and that is only going to result in one outcome! Russell whips it powerfully and comfortably clears deep mid wicket!

18.1 Sam Curran to Rinku Singh

wide yorker nailed to perfection. Rinku can only dig it out towards long off for a single

Sam Curran [2-0-24-0] is back into the attack

Fantastic work from Arshdeep Singh despite conceding two boundaries. Those two dot balls could be very valuable in the end for Punjab. The 19th over which will be mostly bowled by Sam Curran should decide the game!

End of over 18 (10 runs), Kolkata Knight Riders 154/4

Rinku Singh 15(7)
Andre Russell 20(14)
Arshdeep Singh 31/0

17.6 Arshdeep Singh to Rinku Singh

yorker that follows the batter outside leg stump. Rinku flicks it towards deep mid wicket for a single

17.5 Arshdeep Singh to Rinku Singh

sharp bumper on middle and off stump. Rinku is taken by surprise completely and makes a hasty attempt to ramp it. Misses it altogether

17.4 Arshdeep Singh to Rinku Singh

FOUR MORE! Yorker slanted into the batter outside leg stump. Rinku backs away even further and squirts it off the inside edge past fine leg. Streaky but KKR will take it!

17.3 Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell

full and wide outside off stump. Russell slices it towards deep backward point for just a single

17.2 Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell

FOUR! Full delivery down the leg side. Russell uses the pace and tickles it fine past the keeper for another boundary

17.1 Arshdeep Singh to Andre Russell

wide yorker outside off stump. Russell gives it everything he has but only swats away a few flies in the process

Arshdeep Singh [2-0-21-0] is back into the attack

This game continues to entertain us. 15 runs off the over and the game seems to be in a balanced position yet again. KKR also have Shardul Thakur in the dug-out. Arshdeep Singh and Nathan Ellis have to execute against the daunting power-hitters!

End of over 17 (15 runs), Kolkata Knight Riders 144/4

Rinku Singh 10(4)
Andre Russell 15(11)
Nathan Ellis 29/1

16.6 Nathan Ellis to Rinku Singh

very full delivery outside off stump. Rinku squeezes it past backward point and dashes back for the second

16.5 Nathan Ellis to Andre Russell

yorker on middle and leg stump. Russell jams his bat down in time and digs it out towards long on for a single

16.4 Nathan Ellis to Rinku Singh

slower delivery dug into the track outside off stump. Rinku waits for it and hoicks it towards deep mid wicket

16.3 Nathan Ellis to Rinku Singh

INTO THE STANDS! Slot ball on middle and leg stump. Rinku clears his front leg and clubs it well over the deep square leg fence!

16.2 Nathan Ellis to Andre Russell

slower delivery on a back of a length outside off stump. Russell hacks it towards deep mid wicket for a single

16.1 Nathan Ellis to Andre Russell

RUSSELL BREAKS FREE! Slower delivery that lands right in the slot on leg stump. Russell winds up and muscles it past deep mid wicket for four!

End of an amazing spell from Rahul Chahar. He has put Punjab in a dominant position with the wickets of Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana. It is all on Andre Russell to pull this chase off! KKR need 51 off 24 balls!

End of over 16 (7 runs), Kolkata Knight Riders 129/4

Andre Russell 9(8)
Rinku Singh 1(1)
Rahul Chahar 23/2

15.6 Rahul Chahar to Andre Russell

same line and same length outside off stump. Russell drills it towards deep extra cover and this time, settles for the single

15.5 Rahul Chahar to Andre Russell

short and wide again. Russell cuts it towards deep extra cover for a couple of runs

15.4 Rahul Chahar to Andre Russell

short and outside off stump again. Russell has a wild slog at it and misses the ball by a country mile

15.4 Rahul Chahar to Andre Russell

short and way outside off stump. Left alone by Russell and called a wide

15.3 Rahul Chahar to Rinku Singh

back of a length delivery just outside off stump. Rinku gets onto the back foot and tugs it towards deep mid wicket for a single

Rinku Singh, LHB, is into the middle

Fantastic catch from Liam Livingstone and Punjab get right on top here! The decision to play a risky reverse-slog has brought about the downfall! Rahul Chahar with his second scalp too!