Chasing Modest 143 Run Target
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The Kolkata Knight Riders beat the Sunrisers Hyderabad by a seven-wicket margin in a crucial mid-table clash in Pepsi IPL 2014. Chasing a modest 143-run target, the visitors were aided by helpful hands from Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan and Ryan ten Doeschate, after their bowlers – led by Umesh Yadav – restricted the home side to 142 for eight in 20 overs.
Earlier, Darren Sammy, the newly-appointed SRH skipper, won the toss and chose to take first strike. However, the home team lost Aaron Finch (8) off the bowling of Umesh Yadav in the second over with the score on 14. Shikhar Dhawan (19) and Naman Ojha then added 27 runs for the second wicket, before the former was dismissed by Sunil Narine. By the end of the powerplay, the scorecard read 41 for two as Ojha was joined by David Warner. And while the duo soon took their team past the 50-run mark, Ojha (22) got out off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan, leaving SRH on 64 for three.
Lokesh Rahul then paired up with Warner, who was striking the ball very well. Together they added 34 runs, until Piyush Chawla trapped Rahul (14) leg-before in the 13th over. Warner (34) also departed shortly thereafter, holing out to Yusuf Pathan off the bowling of Yadav. Sammy (7) was the next batsman to walk back to the dugout; his 16-ball stay was ended by Shakib Al Hasan, leaving SRH on 129 for six. Karn Sharma (4) was then run-out as the hosts were trying to add a few extra runs towards the end. However, thanks to Irfan Pathan’s (23) cameo, the scorecard kept ticking.
Dale Steyn was the last SRH batsman to depart; Yadav cleaned him up on the last ball of the innings. SRH ended up at 142 for eight after 20 overs. Meanwhile, for KKR, Yadav (3/26) and Shakib Al Hasan (2/22) were the key wicket-takers.
In response, KKR lost Gautam Gambhir (6) early; the left-handed opener was caught behind the wicket off Steyn. However, Robin Uthappa continued his good run in Pepsi IPL 2014. In the company of Manish Pandey, Uthappa (40) added 51 runs, before he was run-out by Sammy. The hard-hitting Yusuf Pathan then took guard opposite Pandey. The third-wicket pair steadied the run-chase and even struck routine boundaries to deflate the SRH bowlers’ confidence. Pandey (35) was eventually dismissed by Karn Sharma, leaving KKR on 104 for three in 15.2 overs.
This was the last bit of success the SRH bowlers would taste tonight as Yusuf Pathan took complete charge of the run-chase. He was ably supported by Ryan ten Doeschate (25*), who struck two fours and a maximum in the final over during his 13-ball cameo. But it was Yusuf Pathan (39*), whose two timely fours and sixes ensured there were no late surprises as KKR coasted to a massive seven-wicket win with four balls to spare.
As a result of this win, KKR now have 12 points from 11 matches and are placed third on the points table. SRH, on the other hand, currently occupy the sixth spot with eight points to show for their 11 outings.
