Gautam Gambhir struck 13 boundaries and hit an unbeaten 90 on Saturday to lead Kolkata Knight Riders to an eight-wicket battering of Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Hyderbad set a modest 142 for Kolkata to chase after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Eoin Morgan’s 51 and Naman Ojha’s 37 led the innings as their first three as David Warner (13), Shikhar Dhawan (6) and Moises Henrique (6) slogged to just 36 for three in the first six overs. Deepak Hooda, caught by Umesh Yadav from an Andre Russell delivery, made it 50 for four when he was out for just six in the 10th over.
Yadav did the bulk of the early damage for Kolkata, taking the wickets of Warner and Dhawan in addition to the catch.
Morgan and Ojha finally put on a parternship for the hosts, scoring 67 together on the fifth wicket, before Ojha was caught long-on by Russell at the boundary, passing off to Piyush Chawla as his momentum took him over. Yadav then struck again for his third wicket, Morgan caught out by Shakib Al Hasan running in from long-on.
Yadav’s three for 38 haul and Morne Morkel’s two for 35 led the Kolkata attack, with Russell (1-19), Shakib (18 runs conceded in three overs) and Sunil Narine (26 runs conceded in four overs) chipping in.
The chase proceeded smoothly, with Gambhir and Robin Uthappa (38) partnering for 92 on the first wicket. Russell was bowled out by Bangladesh quick Mustafizur Rahman for just two before Manish Pandey joined Gambhir, who struck his 90 in 60 balls, to complete the win with 10 deliveries to go.
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