Highlights:
- Rahul Tripathi’s six off the final ball sealed a KKR-CSK IPL 2021 final.
- Chasing 136, Venkatesh Iyer (55) and Shubman Gill (46) contributed 96 runs for the first wicket, providing a foundation for KKR.
- Shikhar Dhawan (36) and Shreyas Iyer (30*) paved the way for DC in difficult circumstances.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made heavy work of a chase that appeared to be wrapped up much earlier, stumbling their way to a three-wicket win against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Sharjah, UAE to qualify for the IPL 2021 final, where they will face MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK). It was last-over heartache for DC, as Rahul Tripathi struck a six to put KKR into the final. Eoin Morgan’s squad was cruising, thanks to openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer’s 96-run stand. However, things changed dramatically as DC bowlers took four wickets in a row to take the game into the final over.
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Iyer hit his third half-century to put KKR in a commanding position, but when he was bowled for 55, the Delhi Capitals roared back into the game.
Nitish Rana, who batted third, looked aggressive throughout his 12-ball stint in the middle. He struck a six off Axar Patel before being dropped by Ravichandran Ashwin at the third man region while attempting to take on Avesh Khan.
Anrich Nortje struck the left-hander with a sharp bouncer to send him back to the pavilion.
Shubman Gill (46) fell four runs short of a well-deserved fifty as he edged one behind the wickets to DC captain and wicket keeper Rishabh Pant.
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Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik, Shakib Al Hasan, and Sunil Narine all dropped for a duck.
With KKR needing seven runs to win, Ravichandran Ashwin was assigned to deliver the last over.
Ashwin delivered a dot ball to Shakib Al Hasan after giving Rahul Tripathi a single off his opening delivery.
Ashwin trapped Shakib directly in front of the stumps on the third delivery then removed Sunil Narine for a golden duck on the very next ball.
Rahul Tripathi then completed the game with a six over long-off to put his team into the final.
The IPL 2021 final will be held in Dubai on Friday.