IPL: Kolkata Knight Riders ease past Gujarat Titans to maintain play-off goal

Asked to bat first on home turf, KKR endured an early setback when Ajinkya Rahane fell cheaply for 14 runs.

Finn Allen then launched a decisive counterattack, smashing 93 off just 35 deliveries to wrest control of the innings and shift momentum firmly in the hosts' favour.

He was well supported through the middle and death overs. Angkrish Raghuvanshi produced a composed yet aggressive unbeaten 82 from 44 balls, while Cameron Green provided further late fireworks with an unbeaten 52 off 28 deliveries.

Together, they propelled KKR to a formidable 247 from their 20 overs. For Gujarat Titans, Mohammed Siraj and Sai Kishore picked up one wicket apiece amid the onslaught.

Chasing 248, Gujarat Titans opened with captain Shubman Gill alongside Sai Sudharsan. Sudharsan struggled with injury for much of the innings, temporarily leaving the field before returning later after Gill's dismissal. Nishant Sindhu's stay was brief, contributing just one run.

Gill anchored the chase with a fluent 85 from 49 deliveries, while Jos Buttler added 57 off 35 to keep hopes alive.

Sudharsan finished unbeaten on 52 from 28 balls, but the Titans could not sustain the required rate.

Despite the late resistance, Gujarat Titans finished short of the target, handing KKR a crucial win in a shock defeat for the visitors. 

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