Kolkata Knight Riders remain unbeaten as Dolphins lost the match by 36 runs. KKR scored 187 runs at the loss of two wickets which Dolphins failed to achieve in the limited overs.
Champions League Twenty20, 18th Match, Group A: Kolkata Knight Riders v Dolphins at Hyderabad (Deccan), Sep 29, 2014
In an unprecedented move Kolkata Knight Riders decided to bat first. Gautam Gambhir, KKR’s skipper in a move to test team’s potential ahead of semi-final made the decision and it well goes in their favour. KKR’s winning streak now extends to 13 matches. While Dolphins was playing for their pride as they were already out of the semi-final race and all they required was a victory for a respectful exit.
Knight Riders faced a little difficulty as Dolphins sent back their key players Gambhir and Jacques Kallis within the powerplay overs but Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey completely smashed Dolhpins’ bowling attack. Uthappa, 85, & Pandey, 76, built up a 153-runs partnership, highest ever in the Champions League T20.
From 34-2 in fifth over to 187-2 they scored at the run rate of about 8 RPO. They both scored unbeaten fifties and set a mammoth target for Dolphins. Where Uthapa played some polished drives, Pandey used a swinging backlift to carve out fours and sixes. Pandey didn’t spare the Dolphins’ best bowler, Abbott, and scored 21 runs in his over.
Dolphins’ was shaky from the beginning in their chase of the tall target while successive fall of wickets escalate the pressure. Then the 63-run partnership between Khaya Zondo, 32, and Andile Phehlukwayo, 37, build up hopes of Dolphins but it was too late for them to successfully materialise this into the victory. They fell short of 36 runs by the end of 20th over.
Narine contributed 3 for 33 to the KKR victory and now with their 13th consecutive victory Knight Riders is just behind Surrey and Otago on the list of teams with most successive wins in T20s. Uthappa was named Man of the Match for his smashing performance with the bat.
Scorecard:
Kolkata Knight Riders 187 for 2 (Uthappa 85*, Pandey 76*) beat Dolphins151 for 8 (Phehlukwayo 37, Narine 3-33) by 36 runs.
Player of the match - RV Uthappa (Kolkata Knight Riders)