Kolkata thrash Rajasthan
Kallis, Gambhir make it easy for the Knight Riders in IPL
JAIPUR:
It seemed a perfect script written in favour of Kolkata Knight Riders as they destroyed Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Jaipur.
After restricting the former champions to a modest 159, Kolkata lost an early wicket but from that point on, Jacques Kallis and Gautam Gambhir made it look really easy. The South African, leading run-scorer in this IPL edition with 187 off three matches, remained unbeaten on 80 while captain Gambhir was with him in the middle on 75.
The Indian was the aggressor, consuming just 44 deliveries, as Kallis anchored the partnership with his 65-ball knock. The pair added 152, an IPL record for the second wicket and the second highest overall after the unbroken 155 added for the first wicket by Australian Adam Gilchrist and VVS Laxman of India in the inaugural edition in 2007 for the Deccan Chargers against Mumbai Indians.
Earlier, Rajasthan were indebted to Rahul Dravid (35) and Ross Taylor (35) but the target proved insufficient for Kolkata who won their second match in the IPL.
Royals, on the other hand, lost their first game as both teams have now played three games each.
Deccan bowlers destroy Bangalore
Dale Steyn and Manpreet Ghoni starred with the ball as Deccan Chargers registered their first win in the IPL, beating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 33 runs.
Steyn and Ghoni shared six wickets between them to halt Bangalore in a non-threatening chase to 142 after Deccan made a competitive 175.
Virat Kohli provided the fireworks for Bangalore but the team was never in the hunt after Indian fast-bowler Ishant Sharma dismissed the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan in the second over. Kohli gave respectability to the scoreline, where only three batsmen managed double figures, hitting a whirlwind 71 off just 51 deliveries.
But the target was too much for one man and even though Cheteshwar Pujara contributed 25, Steyn and company ensured there was no Bangalore revival.
Earlier, Deccan paced their innings to perfection as Sunny Sohal and captain Kumar Sangakkara added 50 for the second wicket after Shikhar Dewan was dismissed for 11. Even after Sohal’s dismissal, Deccan continued their momentum as Bharat Chipli put on a 43-run partnership with the Sri Lankan.
Chipli picked up the pace in the final five overs with South Africa’s JP Duminy and the pair added 55 in just 28 balls to put Deccan on top. Chipli was not out on 61 off just 35 deliveries. Like in their batting, Bangalore’s bowling was dominated by one man, Zaheer Khan who finished with three for 32.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2011.
It seemed a perfect script written in favour of Kolkata Knight Riders as they destroyed Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Jaipur.
After restricting the former champions to a modest 159, Kolkata lost an early wicket but from that point on, Jacques Kallis and Gautam Gambhir made it look really easy. The South African, leading run-scorer in this IPL edition with 187 off three matches, remained unbeaten on 80 while captain Gambhir was with him in the middle on 75.
The Indian was the aggressor, consuming just 44 deliveries, as Kallis anchored the partnership with his 65-ball knock. The pair added 152, an IPL record for the second wicket and the second highest overall after the unbroken 155 added for the first wicket by Australian Adam Gilchrist and VVS Laxman of India in the inaugural edition in 2007 for the Deccan Chargers against Mumbai Indians.
Earlier, Rajasthan were indebted to Rahul Dravid (35) and Ross Taylor (35) but the target proved insufficient for Kolkata who won their second match in the IPL.
Royals, on the other hand, lost their first game as both teams have now played three games each.
Deccan bowlers destroy Bangalore
Dale Steyn and Manpreet Ghoni starred with the ball as Deccan Chargers registered their first win in the IPL, beating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 33 runs.
Steyn and Ghoni shared six wickets between them to halt Bangalore in a non-threatening chase to 142 after Deccan made a competitive 175.
Virat Kohli provided the fireworks for Bangalore but the team was never in the hunt after Indian fast-bowler Ishant Sharma dismissed the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan in the second over. Kohli gave respectability to the scoreline, where only three batsmen managed double figures, hitting a whirlwind 71 off just 51 deliveries.
But the target was too much for one man and even though Cheteshwar Pujara contributed 25, Steyn and company ensured there was no Bangalore revival.
Earlier, Deccan paced their innings to perfection as Sunny Sohal and captain Kumar Sangakkara added 50 for the second wicket after Shikhar Dewan was dismissed for 11. Even after Sohal’s dismissal, Deccan continued their momentum as Bharat Chipli put on a 43-run partnership with the Sri Lankan.
Chipli picked up the pace in the final five overs with South Africa’s JP Duminy and the pair added 55 in just 28 balls to put Deccan on top. Chipli was not out on 61 off just 35 deliveries. Like in their batting, Bangalore’s bowling was dominated by one man, Zaheer Khan who finished with three for 32.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2011.