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Pune: Yusuf Pathan, Andre Russell add vital contributions to condemn Pune to their fourth loss while KKR jump to top fourth win.
Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for a healthy 60, by spinner Murugan Ashwin, after being trapped leg-before.
It was a googly from Murugan, as it possessed some variation, while Yadav failed to pick up the turn, as the off break ball spin across and hit the pad, only to be given out by the umpire. KKR were 119 for the loss of five wickets in 16 overs.
Chasing 161, they were coasting at 111 for 3 before they slumped dramatically, losing five wickets in 30 balls, and only sealed victory when Umesh Yadav struck a meaty straight six with five runs needed off the last four balls.
Knight Riders' slump began in the 15th over, when Rajat Bhatia's stump-to-stump line, and Yusuf Pathan's across-the-line response, ended a 51-run stand for the fourth wicket with Suryakumar Yadav.
That partnership, coming on the back of Suryakumar's stands of 31 and 29 with Gautam Gambhir and Shakib Al Hasan, had taken Knight Riders to a position where they needed 50 off the last 34 balls, with six wickets in hand.
Gambhir shuffled it towards leg side, and quickly went for a couple. However, the first run was not quick enough, as it resulted in a good throw and MS Dhoni rightfully completed the proceedings. Currently, KKR are 31 for the loss of two wickets in three over, with Suryakumar Yadav on 18 and Shakib Al Hasan coming in
Earlier, KKR bowlers once again did a good job for the first 15 overs, before MS Dhoni's late flourish powered Rising Pune Supergaints to 160 for 5.
Ajinkya Rahane scored his third fifty of the season but he never got going as the KKR bowlers kept a tight check on the run-rate and did not allow anyone to cut loose till the death overs. They were few and far between for RPS's liking before a certain Sunil Narine had him one loft back to the bowler in 18th over for 67.
However, Kevin Pietersen's replacement Albie Morkel (16 off nine balls) justified his skipper Dhoni's decision to give him a game with a late dash and Dhoni (23* off 12 balls) himself helped RPS to a good total.
RPS seemed to have lost the plot up front itself, as, in a bid to preserve wickets they went into a shell scoring just 31 runs in the first six overs.
Credit here should go to Morne Morkel (3-0-30-0), Andre Russell (2-0-16-0) and Shakib Al Hasan (3-0-14-1) who bowled a tidy line. Shakib got rid of Faf du Plessis (4) with a beautiful delivery that was tossed up, but spun just enough to beat the bat of a prodding du Plessis to clatter on the top of off stump.
In walked Steve Smith, and in the absence of Pietersen the Australian had to take control of the scoring in the middle overs, and his 28-ball 31-run knock ensured that there were not many wobbles in the middle overs.
Along with Rahane, Smith combined for a 56-run stand before his vigil was ended by Rajagopal Sathish (1/20) running out Smith, when the Australian was backing up just too far. RPS managed to reach only 100/3 after 15 overs, but accumulated 60 runs in the last five.
Morkel injected some life in to RPS's innings with two massive sixes towards the cow-corner and that was followed up by Dhoni who tonked Morne Morkel for a six and two fours in the last over to help RPS head in to the dugout with momentum on their side.
Brief score
Rising Pune Supergiants - 160/5 (Rahane 67, Smith 31)
Kolkata Knight Riders - 162/8 (SA Yadav 60, Russell 36, Bhatia 2-19)
Result - Kolkata Knight Riders won by 2 wickets
