Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) crushed King XI Punjab (KXIP) by eight wickets at the Mohali on Wednesday to find themselves on third position in the points table. Chasing a target of 125, KKR reached the score in just 16.3 overs with eight wickets in hand.
A report in The Hindu says that after sent into bowl, KKR put up a clinical performance to defeat KXIP comfortably by eight wickets. A disciplined bowling and fielding attack first saw KKR restrict KXIP to 124 for seven and then skipper Gautam Gambhir led the charge to score an unbeaten half century to reach the target with 21 balls in hand. Gambhir scored 66 in just 44 balls which included seven fours and a six and he was helped well in the endeavor by veteran Jacques Kallis with who stitched a partnership of 53 for the third wicket. Kallis scored 30 of 23 balls.
Mail Today writes that KKR had revenge on their mind after their loss to KXIP and their bowlers took the onus upon themselves to return the favor to Adam Gilchrist’s boys on Wednesday. Kolkata bowlers bowled brilliantly to restrict the Punjab to a score of 124-7 at their home ground at the PCA Stadium. Sunil Narine who put up a stellar performance with the ball in their last match, was the pick of the bowlers yesterday as well. He picked up two for 24 runs whereas Brett Lee scalped 2 by giving away just 26 runs. Laxmipathy Balaji and Rajat Bhatia chipped in with a wicket each.
Meanwhile a report in Hindustan Times, it was a toothless display by KXIP who let the KKR bowlers dominate the despite a decent start. According to the report, the match was dominated by the Kolkata bowlers and they left from where they started and gave their team a chance to win by restricting them for a low score.
According to The Indian Express, it was a perfect start made by the KKR batsmen with Gambhir and Brendon McCullum leading from the front in a whirlwind fashion. They reached 50 in just six over and even though McCullum was out soon and Manpinder Bisla who could not capitalize on the life he got after Gilchrist missed a chance of stumping him, Jacques Kallis their new number four along with Gambhir played with soft hands and cool mind to see the team through.