Twitter Reactions: Kolkata Knight Riders off to the Qualifier 2 in a rain effected game

The first eliminator at the Chinnaswamy stadium turned out to be a dramatic affair between the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR managed to hold their nerves in what was a rain-marred game. Earlier in the day, it was captain Gautam Gambhir who won the toss as Kolkata Knight Riders elected to bowl first.

Suryakumar Yadav, Piyush Chawla, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Ishank Jaggi were brought into the playing XI. Even the SRH XI had four changes with Yuvraj Singh, Chris Jordan, Kane Williamson and Bipul Sharma coming in. SRH were off to a slow start before Shikhar Dhawan tried to do something fancy and ended up walking back to the dugout. David Warner and Kane Williamson positioned SRH really well. Both put up a 50-run stand for the second wicket.

However, their quick dismissals one after the another put SRH under tremendous pressure. The likes of Yuvraj Singh and Chris Jordan failed to get going. Vijay Shankar provided some solace with a 17-ball 22. Some splendid bowling by the KKR ensured that they restricted the SRH total to 128/7 in their quota of 20 overs.

Nathan Coulter-Nile was the obvious pick of the bowlers with stupendous figures of 3/20. Umesh Yadav was also splendid with 2/21. Even Trent Boult and Piyush Chawla managed to get a wicket each.

The match had a long interruption due to recurring rains. There was a possibility of SRH qualifying for the playoffs if there was no action as they were ahead of KKR in the points table. However, the rain stopped as the match was reduced to a 6-over affair by D/L method as KKR needed 48 to win.

Kolkata Knight Riders began with a shaky start as Chris Lynn got out right after he hit a six off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. More drama unfolded as Yusuf Pathan was run out off the first ball. Next over, Jordan too struck to leave KKR reeling at 12/3.

It was Gautam Gambhir who played the captain’s knock as his innings helped KKR reach 48 without losing another wicket. They managed to win the game by 7 wickets with 4 balls to spare. Team owner Shah Rukh Khan seemed delighted with the result in what was a nerve-wracking game as his team got into the qualifiers.

Here are some of the amazing Twitter reactions that took place during the course of the game:

Another Special season for @BhuviOfficial ? Just the Best bowler of #IPL2017 Carry this in #CT17 too. ?

— Himan Jadduboy (@HimanJadduboy) May 17, 2017

Most wickets by IND bowlers in an IPL season:

26 – BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR, 2017*
24 – Harbhajan Singh, 2013
23 – 5 different bowlers#SRHvKKR

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) May 17, 2017

Sunrisers Hyderabad reached the playoffs so that Chris Jordan could get to play one match after warming the bench for one month #KKRvSRH

— Cricket bakchod (@AllTimeBakchod) May 17, 2017

Siddarth Kaul comes into the attack from the far end. David Warner chatting with his bowler. #SRHvKKR #IPL

— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) May 17, 2017

Another googly and once again Gambhir is beaten. #SRHvKKR #IPL

— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) May 17, 2017

#KingKhan has the same look on his face as he would have when https://t.co/uJvonHZMYs hit theatres.

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) May 17, 2017

KKR panicking while chasing 7 an over from here. You can tell that a South African Jacques Kallis coaches them.

— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) May 17, 2017

the winner of this game will end up playing on wednesday, thursday & friday #SRHvKKR

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) May 17, 2017

Hope sab ghar mai bata ke aaye hai aaj nightout hai. #ipl

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) May 17, 2017

#SRHvKKR Naman Ojha Is One Of The Strong Contenders For The Best Players In The World Along Side Stuart Binny And Ishant Sharma ???

— Zaidu (@RisckyRocks) May 17, 2017

David Warner singing Raag Malhar for the rain to continue.#SRHvKKR pic.twitter.com/tV9uoF4iRJ

— Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) May 17, 2017

Still drizzling but easing off here in B'lore. Drizzle is a big issue! Can't start in the rain…!

— KP (@KP24) May 17, 2017

#SRH fans are like . #SRHvKKR pic.twitter.com/EWoj0tFiYd

— Hunटरर ♂ (@nickhunterr) May 17, 2017

David Warner is happier than a farmer after seeing the rain. #SRHvKKR

— sagaRPS (@sagarcasm) May 17, 2017

Absolutely shambolic batting performance by SRH. Naman Ojha was horrible. Scored 16(16) with 7 dots that too in last 5 overs. #SRHvKKR #IPL

— Aditya (@forwardshortleg) May 17, 2017

Bengaluru weather hasn't forgotten what happened to #RCB at Eden Gardens. #49AllOut

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) May 17, 2017

Bengaluru has been disappointing this season. The crowd, the pitch, the weather and the team. #IPL

— Manya ? (@CSKian716) May 17, 2017

Oh dear, getting ready with the covers…….#KKR desperately need at least 5 overs. Bit of rain good for them, too much will be disastrous.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 17, 2017

#SRHvKKR#NamanOjha You Are Good For Gully Cricket .
2 Runs From 5 Balls #IPL2017

— Abhishek Raj (@abhiluv155) May 17, 2017

If you have a perfect height & body use it like Vijay shankar not like Saurabh tiwary. #IPL #SRHvKKR

— Banna. (@iJaiDeep_) May 17, 2017

Chennai to Hyderabad via Bengaluru.
'Vijay Shankar Express' is ready to start from Chinnaswamy platform…
Cc:@IndianMourinho

— K D Reddy ??? (@BeingKDR) May 17, 2017

Really do like the look of Vijay Shankar. Solid impact in little time in this #IPL

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) May 17, 2017

He hasn't yet faced a ball but this #SRH innings is now about @YUVSTRONG12

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 17, 2017

Perfect Batsman for this kind of pitch and conditions!
He might have a slow strike rate but he is still important!#KaneWilliamson #SRH

— Sai Veer (@SaiVeer07) May 17, 2017

Kane Williamson knows how to find gaps with much ease, rear combination in today's game. Showing is class. #IPL2017 #KKRvSRH

— Gautam Sodhi (@GautamSodhi1) May 17, 2017

Respect to Shikhar Dhawan who saved his best for #CT17

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) May 17, 2017

Kane williamson can even bat on a Railway track#IPL#SRHvKKR

— ShAm (@ShaamRbZ) May 17, 2017

4⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣ runs in IPL for #DavidWarner

First overseas player to do so! ?

Congratulations, @davidwarner31 #SRHvKKR

— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) May 17, 2017

Disappointing to see plenty of empty seats in an eliminator. Guess the crowds were coming for @RCBTweets after all, @amitmirror 🙂

— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) May 17, 2017

Top four run scorers in this #IPL have all been left handers.
David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina.

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) May 17, 2017