Twitter Reactions: Kolkata Knight Riders beat table toppers to have a sniff at top two slots

The Kolkata Knight Riders toppled the table toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last league game of the 2018 edition of the IPL. Coming in to the game, they were under serious pressure to win the match. A win would have given them a chance to finish in the top at the end of the league stage, and hence, get two shots in the playoffs. And now that they have beaten the Sunrisers by 5 wickets, they have to wait for the result of the Chennai Super Kings game to see if they make it to the top two. From their end, they have done their bit by winning the game.

Earlier in the game, the Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bat first. The move worked absolutely fantastic for him with the new opening pair, Shikhar Dhawan and Sreevats Goswami, adding 79 runs for the first wicket. The partnership was broken by Kuldeep Yadav who dismissed Goswami on 35. Williamson and Dhawan then marched on as the former took the attack to the opposition during his stay of 17 balls at the crease that yielded 36 runs.

Meanwhile, Dhawan reached his fifty but failed to add more to his score post the landmark. Dhawan was sent packing on 50 (39) by Prasidh Krishna. Suddenly, the Kolkata Knight Riders clawed back in the game with quick wickets. The Sunrisers innings slumped from 127/1 to 172/9 in 20 overs as Prasidh Krishna finished with figures of 4/30 in his four overs.

In the run chase, the Kolkata Knight Riders got a sensational start with Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine scoring 52 in just 22 balls for the first wicket. Narinee’s blitz ended with a 10-ball 29. Robin Uthappa then joined Lynn at the crease. As Uthappa took his time to settle in, the Australian hard hitter continued to muscle his way in the innings. Lynn brought up another fifty and finished with a 43-ball 55.

After Lynn’s dismissal, the innings rallied forward riding on decent contributions from Robin Uthappa and Dinesh Karthik. A couple of wickets fell in quick succession in the last two overs but the scare was a little too less for KKR to be worried about. Karthik remained at the crease to see his side win by 5 wickets.

Here is how the Twitterati reacted to the match:

Should @SunRisers fans start to worry? Third loss in a row now for them as they head into the finals!! #SRHvKKR #VIVOIPL

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) May 19, 2018

As Sangakkara said, Pandey needs to be told to start quicker. His finishing under pressure will be needed in the playoffs.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 19, 2018

Every time I see Carlos Brathwaite, I remember two comments about him: 1. ‘Remember the name!’ – Ian Bishop 2. ‘Looks like Tarzan, bowls like Jane’ – Dirk Nannes ?

— Hemant (@hemantbuch) May 19, 2018

KKR retained their West Indies stars, bought Lynn and Strac at a big price, invested in India U-19 players and did not have a captain after the auction but they believed and showed everyone that cricket is a team game. Here, they are into the playoffs of IPL – 11. #SRHvKKR

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) May 19, 2018

.@iamsrk's KKR is now the third team to make it to the playoffs. @KKRiders #IPL #IPL2018 #KKR #SRHvKKR pic.twitter.com/ZDnfq4g5Iy

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) May 19, 2018

Well done @KKRiders for qualifying for play offs. Well done @iamsrk ShahRukh

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 19, 2018

Three teams qualified – SRH, CSK, KKR

Two teams disqualified – DD, RCB

One playoffs place on grab between RR, MI and KXIP.

Who will be the fourth to enter the playoffs?

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 19, 2018

8 wickets in 9 matches this season for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He picked 49 wickets in the last two seasons…vice captain’s fitness and wicket-taking form a slight concern for #SRH. #IPL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 19, 2018

Just In : "It's good that #KKR won. Now that makes both the games for tomorrow interesting for the viewers. 2 teams eyeing for 1 spot, NRR in play & also #CSK can slip to 3rd if Gayle Storm hits them & they lose badly."

– Kane Williamson after #SRHvKKR (File Pic) pic.twitter.com/5FstxJYBAY

— TIMES HOW (@TiimesHow) May 19, 2018

Not many gave @KKRiders a top 4 chance post the auction. Well, they’ve made it as team number 3.. Haven’t depended on one or two heroes through this campaign.. They’ve played like a team ??#SRHvKKR

— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) May 19, 2018

DK in successful run chases this IPL

35(29)*vs RCB
42(230*vs RR
23(10) vs RCB – out penultimate over
45(18)*vs CSK
41(31)*vs RR
26(22)*vs SRH#SRHvKKR #SRH #KKR #IPL2018 #IPL

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) May 19, 2018

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