Former Pakistani allrounder Azhar Mahmood restricted Kolkata Knight Riders with an intelligent spell of bowling that saw him mixing pace very well. Mahmood picked up three important wickets as KKR, coasting at 72 for one in just eight overs were held to just 137/6 in 20 overs in their
Champions League T20 match against the Auckland Aces. Mahmood took two wickets in just his first over to peg the Kolkata team back.
He produced a beauty to get rid of Jacques Kallis and followed it up with the wicket of Manvinder Bisla. He came back to pick the wicket of top-scorer Brendon McCullum in his second spell. McCullum was looking dangerous. His three wickets for 16 runs were excellent returns considering that the Kolkata team was packed with big hitters and they had a very good start to capitalize on.
While Mahmood was relishing his role with the ball, opposition skipper Gautam Gambhir continued his poor run of form.
Gambhir tried to turn one from Michael Bates to the onside but the ball took the edge of his bat and flew to Martin Guptill who dived to his left and took it just above the turf.
For the most part, however, it was McCullum taming his countrymen, including New Zealand teammate Kyle Mills.
McCullum was batting beautfully, hitting some good shots. He was pretty severe on anything pitched short.
The Kolkata Knight Riders need to win this match to stay in hunt here. They decided to drop pace ace Brett Lee and he was missed.
Defending a rather small total, Gambhir gave the new ball to Lakhsmipathy Balaji, who went for 17 runs in the first over.
It was only when Sunil Narine was introduced in the innings’ third over that KKr managed to pick a wicket.
Lou Vincent skied one to midwicket. at the time of going into print Auckland were 37/1 in three overs.
Brief scores
Kolkata Knight Riders 137/6 in 20 overs (M Bisla 38, B McCullum 40, Y Pathan 22*, A Mahmood 3/16) vs Auckland Aces
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