IPL Match 8: Kolkata Knight Riders register an emphatic win to open their account
After losing their opening encounter, Kolkata Knight Riders
produced a dominating performance as they defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad easily
in the 8th of IPL played at Sheikh Zayed International Stadium, Abu
Dhabi on Saturday.
Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner won the toss and decided to bat first. It was a cautious start by Warner and Bairstow facing top quality bowling from Pat Cummins. Before being dismissed, Bairstow decided to review the decision that hit the back leg and went to Dinesh Karthik, the decision was upheld. Cummins came back strongly after being smashed for runs in the first match to get rid of dangerous Bairstow with a beauty. At the end of the first six overs, SRH scored 40 for 1.
Manish Pandey struggled with timing initially against
Kuldeep Yadav but then put KKR bowlers under some pressure. At the end of the first
timeout, SRH scored 59 for 1. Soon after the timeout, Varun Chakravarthy
dismissed Warner who gave a simple return catch to the bowler. Warner and
Pandey added 35 runs for the 2nd wicket. Wriddhiman Saha playing his
first game came at number 4 and never looked in comfort. He survived a close
LBW shout was given not out by the umpire as KKR decided to review the decision and
remained not out due to the umpire’s call. Manish Pandey ran between the wickets
well. At the end of the second timeout, SRH scored 93 for 2.
After the timeout, Saha and Pandey tried to hit big shots
but KKR bowlers never allowed them to free their arms. Pandey reached his fifty
off 35 balls. Andre Russell produced a full-toss delivery getting the wicket of
Pandey. Saha and Pandey added 62 runs for the 3rd wicket. It was a
good bowling display by KKR bowlers as they restricted SRH to 142 for 4 in 20
overs.
It was an ideal start for SRH as Khaleel Ahmed struck to
dismiss Sunil Narine with a simple catch to David Warner at mid-off. Nitish
Rana came to the crease and played some cracking shots putting pressure on SRH
bowlers. After being hit for a boundary, Natarajan struck to get rid of Nitish
Rana for a quickfire 26. Shubman Gill looked impressive with his stroke play.
Gill and Rana added 37 runs for the 2nd wicket.
At the end of six overs, KKR 52 for 2. Rashid Khan on his first ball got rid of Dinesh Karthik with a good delivery as Dinesh Karthik
decided to review the decision as the timer gone past zero. The decision was upheld
to leave KKR in some trouble at 53 for 3. Rashid looked the most threatening bowler
troubling Morgan.
On the other hand, Gill made the batting look easy and put
enough pressure on SRH bowlers. Eoin Morgan also showed his class never looking
in discomfort. Gill completed his fifty off 42 balls. It was one-way traffic as
both batsmen ensured that KKR win the match comprehensively. Eoin Morgan and
Gill put on unbeaten 92 runs for the 3rd wicket.
For his unbeaten knock of 70 not out, Shubman Gill was named
the man of the match award.
KKR 145 for 3 in 18 overs ( Gill 70*, Morgan 42*, Rashid
Khan 1/25) beat SRH 142 for 4 in 20 overs ( Pandey 51, Warner 36, Cummins 1/19)
by 7 wickets.
Shubman Gill 70* leads KKR to their first win of IPL 2020
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