NewDelhi April 12 : Kolkata Knight Riders joined an elite list of teams on Sunday after their 10-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 3 of the Indian Premier League in Chennai.
Defending a target of 188 for victory, KKR restricted SRH to 177 for 5 in 20 overs to win the match and collect 2 important points from their campaign opener in Chennai.
The win was KKR’s 100th in the IPL making them the third team after Mumbai Indians (120) and Chennai Super Kings (106) to achieve the feat in this competition.
The two-time champions, who won the tournament in 2012 and 2014, grabbed the 2nd spot after this result with 2 points from 1 match.
They are tied on points with Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore
DC lead the table thanks to their superior net run-rate while RC are just behind KKR.
Put in to bat, Kolkata Knight Riders scored 187 for 6, riding on half-centuries from Nitish Rana and Rahul Tripathi.
Rana top-scored with a 56-ball 80 while Tripathi also hit a half century with a 29-ball 53. Dinesh Karthik chipped in with a 9-ball 22 not out.
SRH made a fine late comeback with Rashid Khan leading the way with figures of 2/24. Mohammad Nabi also took two wickets for 32 runs.
Chasing 188 for a win, SRH could score 177 for 5 with Manish Pandey top-scoring with 61 not out of 44 balls. Jonny Bairstow made a 40-ball 55.
While KKR faces Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians next on Tuesday (April 13), SRH takes on the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore a day later. Both matches will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium at Chepauk.