In the 53rd match of IPL 2023, Punjab Kings (PBKS) won the toss and elected to bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The PBKS captain, Shikhar Dhawan, was the top scorer for his team, making 57 runs off 47 balls with nine fours and one six. Jitesh Sharma also played a supporting role, scoring 21 runs off 18 balls. Shahrukh Khan’s unbeaten 21 off just 8 balls with three fours and one six helped PBKS reach a total of 168 runs for the loss of six wickets.
KKR’s Varun Chakaravarthy was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets, while Harshit Rana also took two wickets to restrict PBKS’s scoring.
In response, KKR started off well, with Jason Roy hitting 38 runs off 24 balls with eight fours. Nitish Rana played a crucial knock of 51 off 38 balls with six fours and one six. However, it was Andre Russell who got KKR close to the target, smashing 42 runs off just 23 balls with three fours and three sixes. He, unfortunately, got run out on the penultimate ball when KKR needed just two runs to win off two balls.
On the final ball of the innings, KKR required two runs to win. Rinku Singh stepped up to the task and hit a boundary, securing the match for KKR by five wickets. It was a nail-biting finish that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Overall, it was a thrilling match with both teams fighting hard till the very end. KKR’s bowlers put in a solid performance to restrict PBKS’s scoring, while their batsmen showed great composure in the chase, especially Russell and Rana. The last-ball boundary by Singh will be remembered as a crucial moment in the match, securing KKR’s win and sending their fans into a frenzy.
As a result of this victory KKR move to 5th on the IPL 2023 points table with 10 points in 11 matches. PBKS meanwhile drop to 7th with 10 points in 11 match but with a poorer NRR.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to KKR’s win against PBKS:
RINKU SINGH THE HERO OF KKR.
KKR needed 2 in 1 ball and Rinku smashed a four. The finisher of KKR, well done Rinku! pic.twitter.com/QkKpO5XXDu
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 8, 2023
RINKU SINGH…..FIREEE HAI? pic.twitter.com/kWhSRjz1M0
— KKR Bhakt ?? ™ (@KKRSince2011) May 8, 2023
ARSHDEEP SINGH THE WARRIOR.
KKR needed 6 in 6 balls – 0,1,1,2,W,4. He gave his best to defend just 6 runs in the final over and took the game till the final ball, a champion performance by Arshdeep! pic.twitter.com/BVtFedZyqj
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 8, 2023
Yesterday GT and SRH won
Today KKR Won
MI and RCB fans: pic.twitter.com/JaKnzZhVMF— Ansh Shah (@asmemesss) May 8, 2023
*KKR in trouble*
Rinku Singh : pic.twitter.com/BsilPBwgIw
— PrinCe (@Prince8bx) May 8, 2023
Just so proud of #kkr. What a comeback after losing 5 on trot. Fans ki izzat rakh li. Doesn't matter if we go all the way or not now. #KKRvPBKS
— RD (@Rowdytweeter) May 8, 2023
• DC Won Against RCB.
• SRH Won Against RR.
• KKR Won Against PBKS.This IPL Is Going Crazy. #KKRvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/us0DHFVkw6
— Sir BoiesX ? (@BoiesX45) May 8, 2023
KKR loosing hope to win
Le Lord #Rinkusingh pic.twitter.com/zTTJd7eatn— Mantasha Sultan Aziz (@mantashaaziz13) May 8, 2023
