Gambhir’s brilliant 64, Balaji’s 4 for 18 hand over Kolkata their first win in IPL-5

Kolkata Knight Riders tasted their first victory in IPL Season V as Gautam Gambhir and Co. trounced Royal Challengers Bangalore on their home ground by 42 runs on Tuesday. L. Balaji crippled Royal Challengers Bangalore with an incisive spell of bowling, writes The Hindu, adding that Balaji took four for 18 from his four overs as RCB capitulated in its pursuit of 165, losing by a dismal 42 runs. “Brett Lee and Jacques Kallis's contributions to the cause were no less significant, their controlled, early spells throttling the home side.”

According to The Times Of India, frustrated by a couple of bad starts to the tournament, Kolkata came fully-equipped to clip high-flying Bangalore’s wings, snatching an easy 42-run victory in their Indian Premier League clash at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Tuesday.  “Skipper Gautam Gambhir’s sublime 64, Manvinder Bisla’s 29-ball 46 and Man of the Match Laxmipati Balaji’s four-wicket haul proved just a bit too much for Bangalore. Jaques Kallis too came back to haunt his old side, playing a decisive role for Kolkata both with the bat and the ball. The South African scored a handy 22 and claimed two crucial wickets,” adds TOI.

Chasing 165, Bangalore’s batting order came a cropper against Kolkata’s pace attack and managed only 123/9 in 20 overs. “Bangalore’s openers Cheteshwar Pujara (6) and Chris Gayle (2) fell early. Virat Kohli was quick to walk back to the dressing room too, scoring just six runs. AB de Villiers failed to continue his good form as the team struggled to 50 in the first ten overs.  After Kallis had taken care of openers Gayle and Pujara, Balaji cleaned up the order scalping Kohli, De Villers, Mayank Agarwal and skipper Daniel Vettori to leave Bangalore high and dry,” adds the national daily.

Meanwhile Hindustan Times writes that it was after all only a day earlier that one saw an almost perfect display of fast bowling from Dale Steyn, in a losing cause for Deccan Chargers and there would be few spells, if any, that could rival the fierce display by the South African.

“Bajali too deserves credit for his fine effort that helped KKR fight-back after losing their way a bit with the batting. With Kallis dealing the opening blows, the bowler finished the game as a contest, removing Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in quick succession,” adds HT.

DNA writes that though a minor fire at the Chinnaswamy delayed the start of the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday, but the real fireworks were to come later. Gautam Gambhir set the stadium ablaze with a brilliant 64 (39 balls, 9x4, 1x6) to help his team post 165 for eight. Lakashmipathy Balaji then bowled a match-winning spell (four for 18) as KKR notched up a 42-run win.