Raghuvanshi, Rahane propel KKR after SRH's collapse

Travis Head's blazing 28-ball 61 went in vain as Sunrisers Hyderabad dramatically collapsed after the fall of the opener. Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi stitched an 84-run stand, with the latter stroking his fifth IPL half-century, to ensure a cruise for Kolkata Knight Riders, who registered their third win of the season.

Brief Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 165 in 19 overs (Travis Head 61 (28), Ishan Kishan 42 (29); Varun Chakaravarthy 3-36, Kartik Tyagi 2-30) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 169/3 in 18.2 overs (Angkrish Raghuvanshi 59 (47); Sakib Hussain 1-17) by 7 wickets

It was a collective bowling performance, led by Varun Chakaravarthy, who struck three crucial blows in the middle overs to trigger the collapse. Sunil Narine and Kartik Tyagi provided support as SRH failed to arrest the slide.

For the first time in six years, Sunil Narine bowled the first over in the IPL. The ploy was to keep the hard-hitting SRH openers in check with balls spinning away from them. Travis Head, with his pulls, and Abhishek Sharma ensured the tactic wasn't as productive as KKR would've liked. Narine conceded 20 runs from two overs.

Abhishek mistimed a pull off Kartik Tyagi and the opening partnership ended on 44. Head took apart Cameron Green for three boundaries in the fifth over, and Ishan Kishan put Tyagi under the pump in the sixth to help SRH pick 71 runs from the Powerplay.

Head reached his half-century by depositing Chakaravarthy into the stands but eventually fell to a mistimed pull.

Rinku misjudgement; Rovman brilliance

KKR seized momentum back after Head's dismissal. Narine returned with a two-run over. Green nearly had Klaasen off the second delivery when he flicked to long on, but Rinku Singh misjudged the line and the ball went over the ropes. Klaasen was later caught at deep square leg by Rovman Powell who took a superb full-stretch diving catch.

Following Klaasen's dismissal, Tyagi, Chakaravarthy and Green conceded only 22 runs in four overs, with the spinner accounting for Smaran Ravichandran and Aniket Verma. A shot from Kishan hit Chakaravarthy on his leg, forcing him to leave the field.

Narine returned in the 16th over and cleaned up Salil Arora with a carrom ball, becoming the first overseas bowler to reach 200 IPL wickets. Kishan attempted to attack but miscued to long off.

SRH lost nine wickets for 60 runs in 60 balls to get bundled out for 165.

How did KKR get going in the chase?

With a first-ball boundary from Ajinkya Rahane. Finn Allen carted Pat Cummins for two boundaries and two sixes in the fourth over, as the pacer conceded 27 runs – the most he ever has in T20s. Allen departed on the last ball of the over, but that carnage brought down the required rate significantly.

Any stutter thereafter?

Not really. Rahane and Raghuvanshi faced little difficulty, putting on an 84-run stand. At no point did the chase seem out of grasp.

Where do they stand on the points table?

No change. SRH retain third spot, while KKR continue at eighth despite their third win.

Where do they head from here?

SRH face Punjab Kings on Wednesday (May 6). KKR head to New Delhi to take on Delhi Capitals on Friday (May 8).