DUBAI: Captain KL Rahul smashed an unbeaten 98 off 42 balls and helped Punjab Kings retain slim Indian Premier League playoff hopes after beating Chennai Super Kings by six wickets on Thursday.
Punjab sat fifth in the standings, and to make the top four needed Kolkata Knight Riders to lose heavily to Rajasthan Royals late Thursday and defending champions Mumbai Indians to lose their last group game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday.
Despite defeat on Thursday, Chennai were certain to finish among the top two.
Tournament top-scorer Rahul just missed a maiden century in this IPL but hammered eight sixes and seven boundaries to overhaul Chennai’s 134-6 with 139-4 and seven overs to spare. Punjab moved ahead of Mumbai on net run rate.
Rahul has hit six half-centuries and scored 626 runs at an impressive average of 62.60 in the tournament.
Fast bowlers Deepak Chahar (1-48) and Dwayne Bravo (0-32) were smacked for 80 runs off six overs as Rahul unleahed an array of shots.
Earlier, after being sent into bat, Chennai’s top order crumbled against seamers Chris Jordan (2-20) and Arshdeep Singh (2-35).
Faf du Plessis made 76 off 55 balls and Ravindra Jadeja 15. They combined in a 67-run partnership after Chennai was 61-5 in the 12th over when legspinner Ravi Bishnoi clean-bowled captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for 12.