Shakib al Hasan’s cool finishing after all-round heroics from Sunil Narine helped their side Kolkata Knight Riders beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in the eliminator of the Indian Premier League on Monday at Sharjah.
Shakib, one of the most experienced players in T20 circuit, kept his cool to achieve the four-wicket win after Narine picked up 4-21 to restrict RCB for 138-7 before playing a swashbuckling innings of 26 off just 15 while chasing the score.
KKR were at one stage 110-3 in the 15th over and looked to be cruising but they lost three quick wickets to be reduced to 126-6 and still needed 12 more runs in last two overs in the knockout affair.
The equation came down to seven off five in the last over and Shakib executed a brilliant paddle sweep off Daniel Christain in the first ball of the final over for a boundary to ease the pressure.
Shakib and Eoin Morgan, the KKR skipper, who was in the other end, completed the formality in the next three balls and set their qualifier battle with Delhi Capitals on Wednesday.
Earlier, RCB made a blistering start after winning the toss but KKR spinner choked the run-rate in the middle order as Shakib gave away just 24 off four overs, Varun Chakravarthy conceded just 20 while Narine was exceptional as he picked up the likes of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiars and Glenn Maxwell, three most dangerous batsman in the world.
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