Australian opener Chris Lynn played his part as Kolkata Knight Riders eliminated inaugural winners Rajasthan Royals by 25 runs in their see-saw Indian Premier League showdown.
But it was skipper Dinesh Karthik's rearguard half-century and some astute marshalling of his bowlers that really helped Kolkata set up a clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday in Qualifier 2, with the winners taking on Chennai Super Kings in Sunday's final in Mumbai.
Karthik led from the front with a fluent 52 and Andre Russell muscled 49 not out to help the hosts overcome a top-order collapse and post a competitive 7-169.
Kolkata were earlier stuttering at 4-51 in eight overs, although Lynn had contributed 18 from 22 balls.
But young Shubman Gill played a nice little cameo of 28 off 17 balls and was involved in a 55-run stand with Karthik before Russell provided a perfect finish by smashing five sixes and three fours.
Karthik's calm presence and prolific run scoring have been crucial to Kolkata's campaign and the right-hander once again shone with the bat before he was dismissed off the bowling of another Aussie, Ben Laughlin.
Needing 170 to win, Rajasthan got off to a strong start in reply but the wheels came off their chase once skipper Ajinkya Rahane (46) and No.3 Sanju Samson (50) fell, Lynn later catching fifth man, Stuart Binny, for zero.
The Rahane-Samson duo added a match-high 62 runs but Rajasthan sorely missed Jos Buttler, back in England for national duty, whose five fifties were crucial to their playoff qualification.
And Kolkata's spin twins Kuldeep Yadav (1-18) and Piyush Chawla (2-24) were outstanding with the ball, conceding only 42 runs in their eight overs to help choke Rajasthan at Eden Gardens.
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