A remarkable innings by Cameron Green, scoring 79 runs off 55 balls, was overshadowed by Kolkata Knight Riders’ sudden collapse, leading to their dismissal for 180 runs in 20 overs against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Despite Green’s impressive performance, KKR lost six wickets for just 33 runs towards the end of their innings. Kagiso Rabada stood out with bowling figures of 3-33, while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna also played crucial roles in restricting the KKR batsmen.
KKR, opting to bat first, faced an early setback as skipper Ajinkya Rahane departed for a golden duck in the first over bowled by Siraj. Rabada further troubled KKR by dismissing Angkrish Raghuvanshi in the second over, followed by Tim Seifert’s dismissal at 32/3 in four overs. Rovman Powell’s quick 27 off 20 balls provided some respite, forming a 55-run partnership with Green, who eventually fell victim to Ashok Sharma’s slower ball after a well-played innings.
Green, who initially struggled, found his rhythm in the 12th over, accelerating his scoring rate with boundaries against the spinners. His partnership with Anukul Roy propelled KKR to 139/4, but Roy’s dismissal triggered a collapse. Despite Green’s valiant effort, wickets fell rapidly towards the end, with KKR finishing at 180 runs, a total considered below par on a pitch favoring batsmen.
In a dramatic turn of events, Green, who had reached 75 off 44 balls, saw wickets tumble around him, limiting his scoring opportunities. The match that seemed destined for a 200-run total ended with KKR settling for 180, a score that may not be sufficient on a pitch conducive to aggressive strokeplay.
