Quinton de Kock contributed to the Lucknow Super Giants’ one-run win against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL on Saturday.

The Proteas opening batsman scored 28 off 27 balls as Lucknow posted 176-8 at Eden Gardens.

Kolkata finished agonisingly short on 175-7, with Rinku Singh scoring 67* off 33 deliveries.

The result ensured a top-two finish for the Chennai Super Kings, who hammered hosts the Delhi Capitals by 77 runs in their march to the playoffs in the first match of the day.

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Four-time champions Chennai, led by MS Dhoni, will take on holders the Gujarat Titans, who top the 10-team table, in the first qualifier next week.

The winner will head straight to the final in Ahmedabad on 28 May and the loser playing the winner of the eliminator between teams three and four in the second qualifier.

Two-time champions Kolkata bowed out of the race for the top four, leaving five-time champions the Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore – both the teams play their respective matches on Sunday – and Rajasthan Royals fighting for the remaining spot.

Kolkata began strongly to put Lucknow in trouble at 73-5 before the left-handed Pooran hit back in his 30-ball blitz to guide his team to 176-8 at Eden Gardens.

In reply, England’s Jason Roy, who hit 45, and Venkatesh Iyer gave Kolkata a brisk start in their stand of 61 in 5.5 overs before the Lucknow spinners hit back.

Kolkata lost track after Roy’s wicket but Rinku, who became an IPL sensation with his five sixes off five balls last month, made Kolkata dream again even when they needed 40 off the last two overs.

© Agence France-Presse