Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Match 38 Match Summary

End of a cracker - Phew! That's it from a rollercoaster of a game, where Kolkata Knight Riders held their nerve to snatch a win from Lucknow Super Giants and also move up to 8th position, sending LSG to the bottom. The action now shifts to Delhi, where the Delhi Capitals take on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on 27th April, Monday. The match begins at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), and as always, you can join us early for all the build-up. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH -  Undoubtedly, Rinku Singh wins the award for his incredible all-around effort. With the bat, he scored an unbeaten 83 off 51 and also took 5 catches (this includes one in the Super Over). He says that he was looking to just take the game deep and keep rotating the strike and find the odd boundaries, as this is what his role is. Rinku mentions that going after Digvesh Singh in the last over was not calculated, as he was just looking to the game deep and cut loose in the last over. On his stunning relay catch, Rinku shares that he has loved fielding since he was a child. Adds that the hard work he has put in his fitness has paid off. As for the catch itself, he admits he was not ready for it initially, but Powell threw the ball towards him and he just ran in and took it.

The victorious skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane says the nerves are finally settled. He singles out the passage after the 16th over as the turning point, with Rinku's innings standing out for him. He is very impressed with the way they (KKR) seized the momentum in the final phase. On the target, Rahane draws on experience at this ground from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Says that the soil felt familiar, and they had a sense that 160 to 170 would be a competitive total. Admits that the Powerplay with the bat was poor, and that is something they need to address. But defending 156, he adds, is always more manageable when the bowling unit performs the way it did. On the chase, he is clear that the game was never over. Credits Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, and also reserves special praise for Anukul, who kept KKR in it, and says they always believed one wicket would change everything. On handing the ball to Narine in the Super Over, Rahane says he was always the first choice. Says he (Narine) has been bowling fantastically, and asking batters to hit spinners to the longer side was never going to be straightforward at this venue. He also singles out Kartik Tyagi for his confidence and clarity, and Anukul Roy for his Powerplay bowling. Also praises Arora and adds that these Indian players are doing very well. Beyond that, he stresses, it comes down to clarity and the way you execute. On managing the bowlers under pressure, Rahane acknowledges it is challenging but says you have to stay in the moment, assess who is batting and what the run rate demands. Details that using the longer boundary to their benefit was part of the plan

Presentation Time...

The hero of the Super Over speaks - Sunil Narine, on bowling Super Overs, says he does not think he has much of a choice. Adds when you bowl well in tough situations, you get asked to do it again. He admits it is never easy, but says bowling the first innings of a Super Over is always a little simpler than coming in second. Narine mentions that he isn't a one who celebrates over the top and just likes to keep it simple. On that delivery to dismiss Pooran in the Super Over, Narine says it is right up there among his best. Mentions that the situation made it feel a little more special. He admits he has been struggling and says games like this are exactly what he needs to find some momentum. He admits that the journey ahead is going to be tough, but stresses taking one game at a time. On the nerves during Tyagi's final over, Narine admits that bowling the last over to defend a total is never straightforward, regardless of who is at the crease or who is bowling. He says Tyagi has bowled well all season and sees this as a learning curve for him. On whether it was obvious he would bowl the Super Over, Narine says the entire team backed him, and says he simply had no problem with that.

The captain of Lucknow Super Giants - On the defeat, Rishabh Pant admits that the team needs a break and a chance to refresh. Accepts the pressure is always going to be there, he says, but the answers have to come from within. Mentions it cannot rest on one or two players and stresses that everyone has to take responsibility. On sending Pooran out for the Super Over, Pant shares the there was a long discussion and Nicky P was the name that came up. Says he may not be in the form of his life right now, but you have to trust your players and stay positive. Adds there may not be many positives to take at the moment, but he is confident they will surface after the break. On giving Digvesh Singh the final over, Pant says there are always moments in cricket where a bowler has to step up and bowl a hard over. Adds that he had been waiting for a wicket to fall in the middle overs to bring Digvesh into the attack, but it never came. Too many minds in the mix, he adds, does not make those decisions any easier.

Narine seals it after mayhem - Kolkata Knight Riders were spot on in the field while defending the total, with Vaibhav Arora striking early and the bowlers doing well to choke the flow of runs and build pressure. Cameron Green provided a crucial breakthrough in the middle overs to turn the tide, while Varun chipped in with a couple and Narine removed the key man Pant. Arora returned well at the death to finish with two wickets, but the final over turned into a rollercoaster. Tyagi, trusted with the ball, saw things slip with two costly waist-high No-Balls, recovered to make it 7 off 1, but then conceded a six. The call to go with Narine in the Super Over proved spot on as he gave away just 1 run while picking up two wickets to seal it. And through it all, Rinku Singh's presence was unmissable - five catches, including one in the Super Over, and he fittingly finished it off with the bat as well.

The tale of two heroes - Earlier in the game, Kolkata Knight Riders battled their way to a fighting yet below-par score at this venue. Rinku Singh stood tall amid the chaos - from a dire 93/7, he dragged them to 155/7 with a stunning 83* off 51, his career-best in the format, while Green's little cameo in the middle proved vital. But the first half belonged entirely to Mohsin Khan, whose superb five-wicket haul put LSG on top. Prince Yadav impressed again, and Linde chipped in with a wicket, though Digvesh Singh leaked 26 runs in the final over as Rinku smashed him for four sixes, handing the visitors an outside chance.

LSG falter at the finish - Lucknow needed a solid Powerplay start but lost Marsh early and never quite got going. Pant and Markram steadied things with a 57-run stand, but once Markram fell, the innings unraveled dramatically from 78/2 to 120/6. Badoni played a crucial cameo and Himmat Singh chipped in to keep hopes alive, but wickets kept falling at the wrong time. The final over was pure chaos - Himmat fell with 8 needed off 4, and just when the game looked done with 7 required off 2, Shami smashed a six to force a Super Over. However, LSG could manage only 1 run there, which was never going to be enough.

Rinku runs the show - You could simply call this game - Rinku Singh against Lucknow! He was everywhere, with the bat, in the field, and fittingly hit the winning runs in the Super Over as well. Kolkata Knight Riders have flipped the script on Lucknow Super Giants, avenging their previous defeat in a game packed with drama, twists, and plenty of chaos. One team had to lose here, and LSG did have their moments but just couldn’t deliver when it mattered most; you do feel for them as they still remain winless at home.

FOUR! How poetic! It had to be Rinku Singh. Fair to say, it was Rinku vs LSG tonight. The Super Giants trudge off with another home defeat. Prince Yadav bowls full and wide outside the off stump. Rinku leans forward, opens the bat face and drives it away to the deep backward point fence to seal the deal for his team. KKR BEAT LSG IN THE SUPER OVER!