Image source, BCCI/IPL

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders secured a comfortable 80-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, who slipped to the bottom of the Indian Premier League (IPL) table.

Set a target of 201, Sunrisers' powerful but inconsistent top order failed as they slipped to 9-3 and 66-5 before being bowled out for 120 in 16.4 overs.

Australia's Travis Head fell for four from the second ball of the chase while Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan were both dismissed for two.

Sunrisers had a glimmer of hope with destructive South Africa batter Heinrich Klaasen in the middle but his dismissal for 33 in the 15th over all-but secured a vital win for KKR, who were bottom of the table going into the match.

KKR chose seamer Vaibhav Arora as their impact player and he starred with figures of 3-29, including the wickets of Head and Klaasen, while spinner Varun Chakravarthy took 3-22.

Earlier, KKR's 200-6 came from a late flourish of 78 runs scored from the final five overs of their innings. Venkatesh Iyer struck 60 from 29 balls with seven fours and three sixes, while Rinku Singh made an unbeaten 32 from 17.

They capitalised on a platform set by skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who added a third-wicket stand of 81 following the early departures of openers Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine.

Sunrisers started their IPL campaign by posting 286, the tournament's second-highest total of all time, but have since lost three matches in a row.

The IPL continues on Friday with Lucknow Super Giants taking on Mumbai Indians.

• Chasing 201 to win, Sunrisers Hyderabad's powerful top order stuck with its ultra-aggressive approach but they have slipped to 72-5 at the halfway mark.
• Australia's Travis Head came in as an impact player for the Sunrisers but he was dismissed from the second ball of the innings for four.
• Fellow opener Abhishek Sharma and number three Ishan Kishan both fell for just two as Kolkata Knight Riders' dream start continued, with two wickets for their impact player Vaibhav Arora as Sunrisers were 9-3 inside the first three overs.
• Sri Lanka batter Kamindu Mendis made his first IPL appearance but was the fifth wicket to fall for 27 from 20 balls.
• Heinrich Klaasen and Aniket Verma are in the middle with a further 129 required from the last 10 overs.

Image source, BCCI/IPL

• Kolkata Knight Riders post 200-6, after a brilliant finish which saw them score 78 runs from the last five overs.
• Sunrisers' bowlers were keeping the run-rate under control, restricting KKR to 106-4 inside 13 overs.
• But Venkatesh Iyer struck 60 from 29 balls including three sixes, while Rinku Singh finished unbeaten on 32 from 17.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi set the platform for KKR's counter-attack with his 32-ball half-century while skipper Ajinkya Rahane made 38. The pair's third-wicket stand was worth 81.
• It sets up an intriguing run-chase for Sunrisers, who have already posted 286, the second-highest IPL total, this season with their powerful batting line-up.

Image source, BCCI/IPL

• Kolkata Knight Riders slipped to 16-2, with openers Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine falling for one and seven respectively.
• De Kock was caught in the deep off Sunrisers skipper Pat Cummins while Narine was caught behind of Mohammed Shami.
• KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane has led the recovery with 38 from 26 balls, supported by Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who has 30 from 21.
• The pair have added 68 for the third wicket as the defending champions reach 84-2 at the halfway stage of their innings.

Two sides struggling for consistency meet in today's IPL encounter with Sunrisers Hyderabad, who are eighth in the table, meeting bottom-placed Kolkata Knight Riders.

Both teams have won one and lost two of their matches so far.

Pat Cummins' Sunrisers have chosen to bowl first while KKR have brought in former England all-rounder Moeen Ali in place of seamer Spencer Johnson.

Image source, Getty Images

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