While Dwayne Smith shaped Gujarat Lion’s chase of 190 with a scintillating 39-ball 74, Dinesh Karthik took the team across the finish line with a brisk 23-ball 35.

After Hashim Amla’s sparkling century set the visitors a formidable target, Smith shouldered the responsibility of setting up the chase in the absence of the injured Brendon McCullum. While reflecting on the thrilling win in Mohali on Sunday night, Smith told Karthik “It feels really good because I have had some very disappointing knocks coming into this game. But for me I am always positive to get a good score and (to) help the team win was really good.”

“What was going through your mind when the ball was going through the air and (David) Miller was getting under it? I saw your body language; you had given up there,” Dinesh asked the opener about the reprieve he was given while he was on 42. “Yes, I did (give up), because it went to Miller and he is one who usually catches them. So I was worried. When it went down I was very happy,” Smith responded recalling the heart-stopping moment.

After Smith’s match-winning knock set the chase on course, Karthik finished the game with two balls to spare. His six off Varun Aaron in the penultimate over firmly put the Lions in a position from where they could score the required runs without too much pressure. “It was under pressure; we were needing a big hit at that time and when he bowled me a length ball I just wanted to go after (it) and luckily for me, it took the top-edge and went way over the ‘keeper’s head. That’s not exactly where I wanted to go, but it was really good. At the end of the day it came to winning cause.”

Karthik explained that despite not being in contention for the playoffs, the Lions were extremely motivated to win the remaining matches and finish the tournament on a happy note. He said, “No matter what, even though we are out of the tournament, there is a lot of pride at play when you play these kind of games. When you watch it from outside, you might feel it is a more important game for Kings XI; but as players we still pride ourselves on every game we play. And it was important as an individual to win this game for us.”

While the duo had played crucial knocks to help their side to a win, it was Hashim Amla’s sparkling century that set up a thrilling contest. While lauding the KXIP opener’s majestic 104 off 60 balls, Smith said, “Amla is a very good player .