IPL 2020: Eoin Morgan leads the way to keep Kolkata Knight Riders in playoffs hunt

Captain hits sparkling half-century in 60-run win over Rajasthan Royals

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Eoin Morgan scored 68 against Rajasthan Royals in Dubai. Sportzpics for BCCI

Eoin Morgan played the finest innings of his IPL career to give Kolkata Knight Riders a chance of making the playoffs, and sent his three England World Cup-winning colleagues who play for Rajasthan Royals crashing out in the process.

The Kolkata captain blazed 68 in 35 balls to lift his side to 191-7 at the Dubai International Stadium.

Despite the presence of Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler in their line up, Rajasthan could not get close, as they fell to 60-run loss.

Kolkata had started the game in last place in the points table, but the win vaulted them back into the fourth playoff place.

They must now wait to see whether they will stay in that position, dependent on how the two remaining matches in the league play out.

The vast margin of victory also boosted their net run-rate. That means a hefty loss for either of Royal Challengers Bangalore or Delhi Capitals, who meet on Monday night, could yet cause that side to shuffle below Kolkata in the table.

Even if that does not happen, Kolkata will advance to the eliminator match if Mumbai Indians beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final league match on Tuesday.

“Rajasthan are a fantastic side, as are the majority of teams in this competition, as the table shows at the moment,” Morgan said.

“We wanted to maximise everything we have done, and I don’t think we could have done anymore today.”

Steve Smith, the Rajasthan captain, said his side had played good cricket at points during the competition, but had paid for inconsistency.

“The matches where you win out of nowhere make your season, but you need to win the ones you should win as well,” Smith said.

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Chennai v Punjab player ratings

KINGS XI PUNJAB RATINGS: KL Rahul – 6. Extended his lead at the top of the IPL run-maker charts with 29 more this time, before he was castled by Ngidi. Sportzpics for BCCI

Mayank Agarwal – 7. Contributed a quick 26 to an opening stand with Rahul worth 48 in a little over five overs. Sportzpics for BCCI

Chris Gayle – 5. Played around a straight ball from Tahir while sweeping and was out lbw for 12 from 19. Sportzpics for BCCI

Nicholas Pooran – 4. Feathered a faint nick behind while attempting a pull off Thakur, having made just two. Sportzpics for BCCI

Mandeep Singh – 5. Like Gayle and Pooran before him, he perished playing across the line, this time to a low bouncing delivery from Jadeja. Sportzpics for BCCI

Deepak Hooda – 9. Brought up his second IPL half century with an exhibition of glorious extra cover driving to hoist his side to a competitive total. Sportzpics for BCCI

Jimmy Neesham - 5. Fell to a fine diving boundary catch by Gaikwad after he top-edged a pull off the first ball he faced from Ngidi. Misfielding for the winning run sort of summed up the day. Sportzpics for BCCI

Chris Jordan – 5. His troubled campaign ended in similar fashion to so much that had gone before: he huffed and puffed for one for 31. Sportzpics for BCCI

Murugan Ashwin – 8. Went for just 17 from his four overs of leg spin, and had a wicket chalked off by the third umpire. Sportzpics for BCCI

Ravi Bishnoi – 4. Ended his breakthrough season on a low, going wicketless for 39 runs from his four overs. Sportzpics for BCCI

Mohammed Shami – 6. A tidy enough economy rate as he went for 29 from his four overs, but his side really needed wickets. Sportzpics for BCCI

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS RATINGS: Faf du Plessis – 7. Made the most of a life, after Hooda grassed a difficult chance when he was on five, with a rapid 48 to fuel the run chase. Sportzpics for BCCI

Ruturaj Gaikwad – 8. A campaign that started with him contracting Covid, then a run of low scores, ended on a high as he made another match-winning half-century. Sportzpics for BCCI

Ambati Rayudu – 6. Encapsulated the CSK season in that he was showing signs of wear as he limped to the close, but got there in the end. Sportzpics for BCCI

MS Dhoni – 7. Not needed to bat, but managed his bowlers cannily on a pitch that would not have been out of place in Chennai. Sportzpics for BCCI

Narayan Jagadeesan – 5. Rarely spotted in the field, and not required to bat, either. At least he was able to savour a win. Sportzpics for BCCI

Sam Curran – 5. An inauspicious end to a season in which he became a central cog for CSK, as he bowled just two overs for 15. Sportzpics for BCCI

Ravindra Jadeja – 7. His left-armers were central to slowing Punjab’s progress in the middle overs, as he took one for 17 off three. Sportzpics for BCCI

Deepak Chahar – 5. Not as threatening as he has been recently in this tournament, as he went at 10 an over from his three overs. Sportzpics for BCCI

Shardul Thakur – 6. Picked up Pooran, with a delivery that was some way short of his best, in a steady outing with the ball. Sportzpics for BCCI

Lungi Ngidi – 6. Bowled both openers, got Neesham, too, but feeding Hooda’s cover drives was not the savviest plan. Sportzpics for BCCI

Imran Tahir – 7. Had his figures slightly spoilt by a last over six by Hooda over extra cover. He was not alone in that. Sportzpics for BCCI

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“Unfortunately we didn’t do that on enough occasions this year. It is a disappointing way for us to bow out.”

Kings XI Punjab’s resurgence in the second half of the season ultimately proved futile when the lost to Chennai Super Kings in the afternoon match in Abu Dhabi.

They had been bottom of the table halfway through the campaign before a rousing run of wins put them firmly in contention for a playoff spot.

Two defeats in their last two matches counted them out, though, and they were outplayed by a Chennai side who had started the day in last place.

KL Rahul, the Punjab captain, said his side need to learn from this season’s mistakes if they are to become contenders in the future.

“It would have been great if we could have got one more victory and qualified tonight, but nevertheless I think we did really, really well as a team to give ourselves a chance,” Rahul said.

“It hurts a little bit, and will hurt for a little while, but we need to take the learnings and come back stronger next year.”

The nine-wicket win at Zayed Cricket Stadium was an uplifting way to sign off for a Chennai side who are preparing to rebuild after missing the playoffs for the first time in their history.

“It just didn’t quite click,” Stephen Fleming, Chennai’s coach, said.

“Tactically, some of the decisions as to dew or no dew, at the start of the tournament were incredibly frustrating.

“But we stuck together really well, which I was proud of. The focus was for us to keep getting better.

“We are too proud to just whimper out, and that is reflected in the three games we have played now.

“We were a lot more settled, and able to play young players in the right spots, and give them a good run.

“We are proud of how we stuck together, but disappointed that we couldn’t put it together earlier.”

Although Chennai are preparing to overhaul their ageing side, MS Dhoni confirmed he will not be retiring, saying he would be back next season.

The captain is looking forward to help build a side that can be as successful over the next decade as they have been over the past 12 years.

“A lot depends on what BCCI decides about the auction,” Dhoni said.

“We need to slightly change our core group and looks for the next 10 years."