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Cameron Green’s costly late over proved decisive as Lucknow pulled off a dramatic final-ball chase against Kolkata.
Cameron Green's challenging start as the IPL's most expensive overseas signing continued as Kolkata Knight Riders slumped to a fourth straight defeat, edged by Lucknow Super Giants in a last-ball thriller at Eden Gardens.
Green, playing his first full all-round role of the season, contributed an unbeaten 32 but endured a difficult return to bowling, conceding 28 runs from two overs.
His penultimate over proved decisive, with Lucknow launching a late surge to chase down 4-181 and finish on 7-182.
The turning point came in the 19th over when Mukul Choudhary, in his debut IPL season, took on Green and struck 16 runs, including two sixes off short deliveries. That late burst shifted momentum sharply in Lucknow's favour.
Choudhary then completed the chase in dramatic fashion. Facing the final over from Vaibhav Arora, he cleared the boundary twice more, including a full-stretch strike over extra cover to level the scores off the penultimate ball.
A scrambled bye off the final delivery sealed the win, despite a missed swing and a wayward throw from wicketkeeper Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
The 21-year-old finished with a rapid half-century from 26 balls, his seventh six underlining a remarkable counterattack that stunned the home side.
For Green, there were at least minor positives. He claimed his first wicket of the campaign with his second ball, dismissing Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant, and earlier helped stabilise Kolkata's innings after a top-order wobble.
Arriving at No.4 with the score at 4-111, Green combined with Rovman Powell to rebuild, although his innings lacked fluency early.
He eventually found some rhythm, highlighted by a clean strike over long-on off Mohammed Shami, and ended with three boundaries from 24 balls, while Powell's unbeaten 39 from 24 provided the greater impetus.
Lucknow's chase also featured a steady 54 from Ayush Badoni, offsetting a modest start from Mitchell Marsh, who made 15.
The victory lifts the Justin Langer-coached side into the top half of the table, while Kolkata are left searching for answers after another narrow loss.