Robin Uthappa, displaying the kind of form that won him the Orange Cap last season, joined hands with Andre Russell to script a seven-wicket win for Kolkata Knight Riders against Chennai Super Kings at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday. It was sweet revenge for the Kolkata side which had lost a close encounter in Chennai two days ago.
Chasing Super Kings’ 165, Uthappa (80 not out, 58b, 7x4, 1x6) and Russell (55 not out, 32b, 4x4, 4x6) were involved in an unbeaten 112-run partnership for the fourth wicket which took the Knight Riders home with a ball to spare. This was the Kolkata outfit’s fourth win of the season.
Needing 100 off 10 overs, Uthappa and Russell excelled under pressure, increasing the scoring rate with a flurry of boundaries. The West Indian, who had earlier bowled a fine spell, was named the man-of-the-match.
Looking for a win after two defeats and a wash-out, the Knight Riders fumbled initially as captain Gautam Gambhir fell for 19. Manish Pandey and Suryakumar Yadav did not last long, perishing to left-arm spinner Pawan Negi and debutant Ronit More. Negi, who replaced the injured R. Ashwin, bowled with passion and accuracy.
After being asked to bat, the visitors were given an explosive start despite losing Dwayne Smith to the first ball of the match. Ryan ten Doeschate took a stunning catch to send back the West Indian off Pat Cummins’s bowling.
Brendon McCullum, however, was his usual, aggressive self, blasting two mighty sixes as Cummins went for 19 in the first over. The Kiwi added 43 with Suresh Raina for the second wicket off just 3.3 overs, making good use of the PowerPlay. Raina fell to Umesh Yadav, hitting straight to Piyush Chawla at mid-on.
Doing it againChinaman bowler Brad Hogg, who had troubled the Super Kings batsmen in Chepauk the other day, was introduced in the sixth over. He struck immediately, trapping McCullum in front. The Kiwi opener took just a dozen balls for his 32, which contained three fours and an equal number of sixes. Faf du Plessis, who also scored some quick runs, was sent back in the same over, stumped by Uthappa.
With Chawla removing skipper Dhoni in the next over, Super Kings was in dire straits at 72 for five. Dwayne Bravo (30) and Ravindra Jadeja (24) then stitched together a 57-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
It was, however, a late charge from Negi, who hammered 27 off 13 deliveries with four fours and a six, that took Super Kings to a competitive 165. Uthappa and Russell ensured that the total was not adequate.
