5 factors that influenced KKR’s win over LSG

KL Rahul starts off bright (for a change)

Finally, KL Rahul has listened to the critics, starting off with a positive approach, striking at 150 in the powerplay phase, his second-best after 2018. Not just that, his strike rate in the first ten balls read: 137. 

Against KKR, he started with a 13-ball 23 before ending up on 39 (27) with three fours and two sixes. 

Spin for win yet again for the Knights

Yet again, Kolkata found themselves bossing the game, thanks to their spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. The duo combined to pick up two wickets, conceding just 47 runs at an ER of 5.9, compared to 113 runs that the pacers conceded, with an ER of 9.4. 

Welcome to the IPL, Shamar Joseph

Before his IPL debut, Joseph had only played two T20s, picking up zero wickets. He learnt that IPL is a different kettle of fish, conceding 22 runs in his first over, with eight extras, defending 161. Life didn’t get any easier for the Windies bowler, who ended up with figures of 0/47 in four overs. 

Mohsin Khan breathes fire

Mohsin, however, was the biggest reason LSG remained in the clash, with two quick wickets in the powerplay. In his first two overs, the left-arm seamer removed Sunil Narine and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, with figures of 2/8 in the powerplay. 

Before today, his figures read 1/54 in the first six-over phase. 

Phil salts on the Lucknow wound

Everything he touched turned to gold. He got 39 off just 16 balls in the powerplay. He didn’t stop there either, putting on a show, scoring a 47-ball 83, the third-highest individual score for an overseas KKR batter. It was such a night for Phil Salt.

In the first 30 balls, he scored 52 before accelerating to score 37 off the next 17 balls, scoring at 217.65. 74 of the 89 runs he scored were through boundaries. His partnership with Iyer (120 off 76) helped KKR to an easy win.