IPL: Highest totals after losing 5 wickets below 100 runs
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) relished a brilliant outing against Faf du Plessis’ Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Eden Gardens, winning the contest by 81 runs. Arguably one of the most interesting highlights of the clash was KKR clawing their way back into the contest after losing a few early wickets and eventually posting a mammoth first innings total.
To be precise, KKR lost five wickets under 100 runs and eventually concluded with over 200 runs courtesy of scintillating performances by the middle-order batters. On a few occasions like this, KKR has lost early wickets and yet scored big in the contest. Whereas RCB (against DC in 2022) are the only other side to have replicated a similar sort of innings in IPL history. On that note, we take a look at the five instances when the franchises set the highest totals after being five down for less than 100-
3. KKR vs CSK, 202 runs | 2018
In 2018, CSK dented Kolkata’s batting top order as the former got five wickets for 89 runs. However, what followed was sheer domination of Andre Russell as he slammed an unbeaten 88 from 36 balls, smacking 11 maximums and one boundary. This helped the side get to 202 runs but eventually ended in a losing cause in the thrilling affair.
2. KKR vs CSK, 202 runs | 2021
Similarly, the two sides yet against engaged in another scintillating contest in 2021. CSK posted a humongous 220-run total. KKR endured a disastrous start as they lost five wickets for mere 31 runs and then picked up impressively due to a collective middle-order performance. Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell, and Pat Cummins fired in tandem as they got 40, 54, and 66 runs respectively to breach the 200-run mark but failed to emerge victorious.
1. KKR vs RCB, 204 runs | 2023
Against RCB in the 16th edition of the IPL, KKR batted first and started slow in the contest. Adding to their miseries, they lost half their side (five wickets) for 89 runs. However, Shardul Thakur shifted gears and hammered the second-fastest fifty in the season (20 balls) and got help from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored 57 runs and Rinku Singh (46 runs). With the massive turn around, KKR posted 204 runs and won the contest as they dominated RCB in the bowling department as well.
