Lucknow edge Kolkata to enter play-offs

KOLKATA: Lucknow Super Kings survived an unbeaten blitz of 67 by Rinku Singh to edge Kolkata Knight Riders by one run and qualify for the Indian Premier League play-offs on Saturday.

Nicholas Pooran’s 58 guided Lucknow to 176-8, a total that was threatened by Rinku, a lefthand batsman, who smashed four sixes in his 33-ball knock but Kolkata ended on 175-7.

“First reaction is satisfaction,” Lucknow skipper Krunal Pandya said after the win.

“We never gave up, we were put under a lot of pressure but credit to the boys. At one stage, they were 61-1 but I’ve seen it before that at this level, twothree tight overs and we’re in the game.”

The result ensured a top-two finish for Chennai Super Kings, who hammered hosts Delhi Capitals by 77 runs in their march to the play-offs in the first match of the day.

Four-time champions Chennai, led by MS Dhoni, will take on holders Gujarat Titans, who top the 10-team table, in the first qualifier next week.

The winner will head straight to the final in Ahmedabad on May 28 and the loser playing the winner of the ‘eliminator’ between teams three and four in the second qualifier.

“There is no recipe as such,” Dhoni said on his team’s success in the T20 tournament.

“You try to pick the best players and try to give them the best slot. You use them in the manner where they have most chances of succeeding and groom them in the areas where they are not as strong.”

Two-time champions Kolkata bowed out of the race for the top four, leaving five-time champions Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore — both the teams play their respective matches on Sunday — and Rajasthan Royals fighting for the remaining spot.

Kolkata began strongly to put Lucknow in trouble at 73-5 before the left-handed Pooran hit back in his 30-ball blitz to guide his team to 176-8 at Eden Gardens and was named man of the match.