Mumbai, May 15: Kolkata Knight Riders beat the Mumbai Indians by six wickets in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2014 game at the Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. On a slow surface, Kolkata restricted Mumbai to 142 and then Robin Uthappa led the way with 80 to help Kolkata sail home. With this victory, Mumbai are almost out of contention for a place in the playoffs. With this victory, Kolkata have stayed at the fourth spot in the IPL 2014 points table.
A few days ago, Kolkata had turned up at this venue with the Kings XI Punjab being the home side. However, they were the hosts for this game and going by the experience of their previous game, they decided to bowl first. There was one significant change as Shakib Al Hasan came in for Jacques Kallis.
Mumbai struggled to get going for a major part of the innings. There were very few moments when they scored quickly, but Kolkata put up a disciplined bowling performance to keep Mumbai in check. Morne Morkel picked up two wickets, but he did go for 35 balls. The stars were Sunil Narine and Shakib, who have been in splendid touch for them through the season.
Narine’s spell of 1 for 18 at the death did not allow Mumbai’s batsmen to get away. Shakib also did his bit with one for 21 as he kept a hold over their batsmen in the middle overs. Rohit Sharma hit 51 off 45 balls, and it was only towards the end that he smashed the ball around. He had started off with 16 off 26 balls and then attacked. However, his efforts were not going to be enough. Kieron Pollard also struggled as he remained unbeaten on 10 off 11 balls at the death. That showed how tough Kolkata had made it for Mumbai.
After the bowlers put up a good show and restricted Mumbai to 142, the batting got into the act. Uthappa was in great touch. The moment he worked the second ball of the innings, from Lasith Malinga, through mid-wicket, one knew he was in form.
When compared to other batsmen, Uthappa looked at ease on a surface that was slow and it was keeping low a few times. With Gautam Gambhir struggling to come to terms with the wicket, Uthappa was playing through the line and smashing them down the ground with ease.
With Uthappa going strong, Kolkata scored 45 in the powerplay. Harbhajan Singh was Mumbai’s best bowled on the day. He dismissed Gambhir and Manish Pandey (in the 15th over), but Uthappa kept it going. He was in control of his shots and accelerated as the innings progressed. He had got to his half century in 34 balls.
At the death, Kolkata needed 44 off 30 balls. Uthappa then smashed two sixes off Lendl Simmons down the ground to bring the required rate down, but was bowled by Simmons later in the over for 80 off 52 balls. By then, however, Kolkata were on course. Shakib did fall with Kolkata on the brink, and the victory was ultimately was achieved with eight balls to spare
Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians 141 for 5 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 51; Morne Morkel 2 for 35, Sunil Narine 1 for 18, Shakib Al Hasan 1 for 21) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 142 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Robin Uthappa 80; Harbhajan Singh 2 for 22) by 6 wickets.
Kings XI win to go top of IPL
Hyderabad, May 15: Kings XI Punjab returned to the top of the Indian Premier League after a monumental batting display.
After Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a huge total of 205 for five from 20 overs, the Kings XI replied with the fastest team hundred in IPL history - just 7.3 overs.
Manan Vohra (47) and Wriddhiman Saha (54) combined for a 91-run stand before Glenn Maxwell (43) sealed the landmark with a huge six and then took them to 159 for four from 13.1 overs with South African David Miller (24 n.o).
Experienced Aussie international George Bailey then posted the winning runs, making an unbeaten 35 from 19 balls to complete a superb showing that extended their net run rate over second-place Chennai Super Kings.
Kings XI had been no match with the ball for fifth-place Hyderabad's top-order after the home side won the toss. Openers Aaron Finch (20) and Shikhar Dhawan (45) made 65 from eight overs and then Naman Ojha blitzed the Kings XI bowlers to make an unbeaten 79.
Sandeep Sharma and Rishi Dhawan took two wickets each and nullified the threat from the Sunrisers' middle order but Ojha wreaked havoc with seven sixes and four boundaries from 36 balls.
But this season's IPL is becoming a nightmare for bowlers, with the batsman reaching new heights in t20 cricket week-on-week, and a new record was broken by Vohra, Saha and Maxwell after seasoned India batsman Virender Sehwag was out in the first over for four runs.
Vohra brought the 50 up from 3.5 overs when he tucked a short of a length ball behind square leg, and he and Saha continued to dominate the fifth and sixth overs before Saha was stumped on the first ball of the eighth.
Three huge sixes from Maxwell in the eighth, the first sealing the fastest team tonne on just his second delivery, took them to 113 and he continued to dominate until his dismissal by Amit Mishra, with the team at 159 from 13.1 overs.
But Bailey and Miller continued Kings XI's ruthless form, with Bailey hitting three sixes and two fours to clinch the game with eight balls to spare.
Robin Uthappa played a starring role with the bat as the Kolkata Knight Riders claimed a six-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians .
With Mumbai having posted 141-5 from their 20 overs, opener Uthappa superbly marshalled Kolkata's chase as he made 80 to help ensure his side got home with eight balls to spare.
On a slow surface, the Indians struggled to get away early on and lost opener Chidhambaram Gautam for a sluggish eight midway through the second over.
Lendl Simmons also went cheaply, but Ambati Rayudu (33) and skipper Rohit Sharma went about rebuilding the innings with a solid stand of 35 for the third wicket before the former was removed by Piyush Chawla.
Sharma proved the mainstay of the innings with a half-century that included eight fours and two maximums.
He fell for 51 in the final over, while Kieron Pollard failed to add any late impetus with just ten runs from 11 balls faced as Mumbai posted a below-par total.
The Knight Riders were always up with the required run-rate, although Harbhajan Singh bowled both Gautam Ghambhir (14) and Manish Pandey (14) to break their momentum.
But Uthappa was playing fluently as he brought up his half-century and stroked Simmons for two sixes over the off-side in the 15th over to put his side firmly in the driving seat.
Simmons would have the last laugh as he bowled him off the final ball of the over, but a lively knock of 20 not out from 13 balls from Yusuf Pathan made sure Kolkata got home with something to spare.
The win sees the Knight Riders join Rajasthan in third place in the table on 12 points, while Mumbai remain off the pace after a sixth defeat in 10 games.
Kings XI win to go top of IPL
Hyderabad, May 15: Kings XI Punjab returned to the top of the Indian Premier League after a monumental batting display.
After Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a huge total of 205 for five from 20 overs, the Kings XI replied with the fastest team hundred in IPL history - just 7.3 overs.
Manan Vohra (47) and Wriddhiman Saha (54) combined for a 91-run stand before Glenn Maxwell (43) sealed the landmark with a huge six and then took them to 159 for four from 13.1 overs with South African David Miller (24 n.o).
Experienced Aussie international George Bailey then posted the winning runs, making an unbeaten 35 from 19 balls to complete a superb showing that extended their net run rate over second-place Chennai Super Kings.
Kings XI had been no match with the ball for fifth-place Hyderabad's top-order after the home side won the toss. Openers Aaron Finch (20) and Shikhar Dhawan (45) made 65 from eight overs and then Naman Ojha blitzed the Kings XI bowlers to make an unbeaten 79.
Sandeep Sharma and Rishi Dhawan took two wickets each and nullified the threat from the Sunrisers' middle order but Ojha wreaked havoc with seven sixes and four boundaries from 36 balls.
But this season's IPL is becoming a nightmare for bowlers, with the batsman reaching new heights in t20 cricket week-on-week, and a new record was broken by Vohra, Saha and Maxwell after seasoned India batsman Virender Sehwag was out in the first over for four runs.
Vohra brought the 50 up from 3.5 overs when he tucked a short of a length ball behind square leg, and he and Saha continued to dominate the fifth and sixth overs before Saha was stumped on the first ball of the eighth.
Three huge sixes from Maxwell in the eighth, the first sealing the fastest team tonne on just his second delivery, took them to 113 and he continued to dominate until his dismissal by Amit Mishra, with the team at 159 from 13.1 overs.
But Bailey and Miller continued Kings XI's ruthless form, with Bailey hitting three sixes and two fours to clinch the game with eight balls to spare.
Robin Uthappa played a starring role with the bat as the Kolkata Knight Riders claimed a six-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians .
With Mumbai having posted 141-5 from their 20 overs, opener Uthappa superbly marshalled Kolkata's chase as he made 80 to help ensure his side got home with eight balls to spare.
On a slow surface, the Indians struggled to get away early on and lost opener Chidhambaram Gautam for a sluggish eight midway through the second over.
Lendl Simmons also went cheaply, but Ambati Rayudu (33) and skipper Rohit Sharma went about rebuilding the innings with a solid stand of 35 for the third wicket before the former was removed by Piyush Chawla.
Sharma proved the mainstay of the innings with a half-century that included eight fours and two maximums.
He fell for 51 in the final over, while Kieron Pollard failed to add any late impetus with just ten runs from 11 balls faced as Mumbai posted a below-par total.
The Knight Riders were always up with the required run-rate, although Harbhajan Singh bowled both Gautam Ghambhir (14) and Manish Pandey (14) to break their momentum.
But Uthappa was playing fluently as he brought up his half-century and stroked Simmons for two sixes over the off-side in the 15th over to put his side firmly in the driving seat.
Simmons would have the last laugh as he bowled him off the final ball of the over, but a lively knock of 20 not out from 13 balls from Yusuf Pathan made sure Kolkata got home with something to spare.
The win sees the Knight Riders join Rajasthan in third place in the table on 12 points, while Mumbai remain off the pace after a sixth defeat in 10 games.
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