GT Pull Off Last‑Over Heist as KKR’s 180 Falls Just Short

GT Pull Off Last‑Over Heist as KKR’s 180 Falls Just Short

T20 25 of 70 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans

Result: Gujarat Titans won by 5 wickets (2 balls left)

In a contest that swung like a pendulum till the final over, the Gujarat Titans (GT) edged past the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by five wickets with two deliveries to spare. Chasing 181, GT kept their composure when it mattered most, handing KKR their second narrow defeat of the season.

KKR Innings: 180 All Out (20 Overs)

Asked to bat first on a true surface, KKR got off to a flying start. The powerplay yielded 52 runs, but the first blow came when Salt miscued a pull straight to deep square leg. Venkatesh Iyer looked in sparkling touch, caressing three boundaries through the covers before a rush of blood saw him hole out at long‑on.

The middle order then stitched together small but vital partnerships. Rinku Singh played the anchor role, rotating strike and finding the odd boundary. Andre Russell walked in at the fall of the fifth wicket with the score on 112 in the 14th over. The crowd roared, but Russell’s stay was brief – a skier to long‑off off a slower ball.

From 140/5, KKR looked set for 190+. But a flurry of wickets in the death overs – three for 11 runs – saw them bowled out for exactly 180 on the last ball. Rashid Khan and Mohit Sharma used cutters and googlies to perfection, never allowing KKR’s tail to free their arms.

Top scorer for KKR: Rinku Singh 47 (34 balls)

Best bowler for GT: Rashid Khan 3/29 (4 overs)

GT Chase: 181/5 (19.4 Overs)

Needing 181, GT lost their captain early – caught behind off a sharp lifter. But the young Sai Sudharsan looked a class apart. He punched, drove, and flicked with elegance, racing to 39 off 28 before a leading edge ended his cameo.

At 78/2 in the 11th over, the game was in the balance. Then came the partnership that changed the tide. David Miller and Rahul Tewatia added 62 runs in just 45 balls. Miller was the aggressor, clearing the boundary three times, while Tewatia played the perfect second fiddle – until the 17th over.

With 41 needed off 24, Tewatia unleashed. Two sixes and a four off Varun Chakravarthy’s over brought the equation down to 23 off 18. KKR’s death bowling, usually their strength, leaked boundaries under pressure.

But just when GT looked home, Miller fell in the 18th over – caught at deep midwicket for a well‑made 51. Then Tewatia followed next ball, slicing to short third. Suddenly, 18 were needed off 12 with new batters at the crease.

Enter Rashid Khan. With 12 required off the final over, he faced the first ball – a yorker, dug out for a single. The next ball, a low full toss, was smashed through cover for four. Then a wide. Then a length ball – Rashid swung hard, the ball flew over short fine leg for another boundary. Scores level with three balls left.

A single next ball sealed the win. GT’s dugout erupted.

Top scorer for GT: David Miller 51 (31 balls), Sai Sudharsan 39 (28)

Best bowler for KKR: Harshit Rana 2/32 (4 overs)

Turning Points

1. KKR’s collapse from 167/5 to 180 all out – Those 13 runs in the last 12 balls included three wickets. Had they added even 15 more, the chase would have been different.

2. The 17th over by Varun Chakravarthy – Went for 17 runs (two sixes, a four) when KKR needed a tight over. That over shifted the required rate from over 10 to under 8.

3. Rashid Khan’s nerveless final over – Walking in at 163/5 with 18 needed, he finished with 13* off just 5 balls. A true finisher’s knock.

What This Means for Both Teams

For Gujarat Titans, this win cements their reputation as the kings of close chases. They’ve now won four of their last five games decided in the final over. Their bowling depth – especially Rashid and Mohit – remains world‑class, and the batting has enough firepower even without a marquee name.

For Kolkata Knight Riders, this loss will sting. Two defeats in a row by margins of 5 and 6 wickets, both in the last over, point to a lack of killer instinct. Their batting looks solid on paper but crumbles under pressure. The death bowling, once their superpower, has become a concern.

Player of the Match

Rashid Khan – 3/29 with the ball, then 13* (5 balls) in the chase. When the game was slipping away, he stood up with both bat and ball. That’s why he’s the most valuable T20 cricketer on the planet.

Final Thought

Cricket fans couldn’t have asked for more. A last‑ball finish (well, two balls left), a hat‑trick of momentum shifts, and a superhero finish from Rashid Khan. If T20 25 of 70 is a sign of things to come, this season is going to be unforgettable.

Brief scoreboard:

KKR – 180 all out (20 overs)

GT – 181/5 (19.4 overs)

GT won by 5 wickets (2 balls left)

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