Allen carnage keeps KKR alive in playoff race

Kolkata Knight Riders secured a 27-run win, moved to seventh spot on the points table, kept qualification hopes alive, and ensured that all four playoff spots remain vacant after 60 games.

Finn Allen's blazing 35-ball 93, backed by quickfire half-centuries from Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green, laid the platform for KKR's 247/2 at Eden Gardens. Gujarat Titans' batters fought hard but fell short despite impressive performances from Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler.

Brief Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 247/2 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 93 off 35, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 82* off 44, Cameron Green 52* off 28) beat Gujarat Titans 218/4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 85 off 49, Jos Buttler 57 off 35, Sai Sudharsan 53* off 28; Sunil Narine 2-29, Cameron Green 1-25) by 29 runs

Allen's onslaught

The New Zealander, after three failures at the venue this season, regained the touch that had given him a 33-ball century at Eden Gardens earlier. Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj kept him quiet initially, but after the Powerplay he tore into GT's bowlers. The real carnage began in the eighth over when he smashed consecutive sixes off Rashid Khan. He continued against Holder, Sai Kishore, and Arshad Khan, who was hit for three successive sixes. Allen scored 60 runs in the 17 balls after being dropped, and holed out seven short of a century early in the 12th over.

The dropped catch that changed the game

On the penultimate ball of the seventh over, Siraj dropped a regulation catch from Allen at long on. In the next nine deliveries, Allen smashed 6, 6, 4, 1, 6, 1, ., 6, 6 — likely the most expensive drop of the season.

Raghuvanshi and Green finish the job

After Allen's departure, Raghuvanshi took charge against Rashid while Green, after a quiet start, smashed Kishore for two sixes and a boundary in four balls. Both brought up half-centuries, with Green reaching the mark off the final over.

GT's chase

Gill and Sudharsan started aggressively, scoring 41 off the first 15 balls, but Sudharsan retired hurt after being hit on the elbow. KKR's spinners choked the middle overs — Varun Chakaravarthy conceded just 22 runs in three overs during overs 8-13. Gill and Buttler added 128 runs, but Narine removed Gill in the 17th over, conceding only 5 runs. Despite 21 runs off the 19th over, GT needed 45 off the last two. Dubey's tight bowling removed Buttler, and the target proved too big.

What's next

• Gujarat Titans face Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad on Thursday (May 21)
• KKR host Mumbai Indians on Wednesday (May 20)