Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) signed off from the Champions League Twenty20 with a convincing 99-run win over Titans here on Sunday, says a report in The Hindu, adding that casing a stiff target of 189, Titans looked like never being in the hunt and lost wickets at regular intervals to end up with a mere 89 in 16.4 overs.
“Lakshmipathi Balaji was the star bowler for KKR, returning figures of four for 19 in a niggardly spell of four overs. He was ably assisted by spinners Iqbal Abdulla (two for 20) and Sunil Narine (one for eight),” says the report, adding that earlier, the KKR batsmen finally came good as they posted an imposing 188 for five.
“After scoring 107 runs in the front 10, the Knights lost wickets at regular intervals but still managed to get 81 runs in the back 10. With the match being an inconsequential one for the IPL champion, its batsmen threw caution to the winds. There was an exhibition of some fine big hitting by the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Brendon McCullum and man-of-the-match Debabrata Das. While Gambhir top scored with 44 (36b, 4x4, 1x6), McCullum and Debabrata contributed 36 and 43 not out respectively,” says the report.
Meanwhile a report in The Times Of India adds that Debabrata scored 43 in only 19 balls with six boundaries and two sixes. “The highlight was the power he generated in each of the shots as he added 55 runs along with Manoj Tiwary in only 4.3 overs. It was started by Bisla who smashed his way to 27 off only 14 deliveries and in the process hit three fours and two identically pulled sixes off seamer Ethy Mbhalati before being holed out in the cover region,” says the report, adding that McCullum also batted with a 'Devil May care' attitude as he first pulled Alfonso Thomas for a six and then danced down the track to hit offie Eden Links for two huge sixes as 17 runs were taken from his first over.
“Gambhir also got into the act as he hit three fours in one over from Mbhalati as the 50 partnership for second wicket came off only 25 balls. After a whirlwind 63 run partnership in little over five overs, McCullum departed as he was caught in the deep of the bowling of medium pacer Cornelius de Villiers. McCullum's 36 came off only 20 balls with three boundaries and three sixes. Once McCullum was gone, KKR suddenly lost the momentum. Jacques Kallis scratched his way to 18 off 20 balls while Gambhir also couldn't get the boundaries. Both were frustrated and were out trying to clear the boundary. Gambhir hit four boundaries and a six in his innings,” says the report.
The chase was always going to be difficult and Lakshmipathy Balaji was the pick of the KKR bowlers as he grabbed 4/19 with none of the Titans batsmen looking settled, says a report in Indian Express, adding that only skipper Jacques Rudolph managed 25 off 24 balls but other batsmen were really off the boil. “In the end, the performance came too late in the day when it was little value.”
