Published: Sep 29, 2014, 11:03 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 29, 2014, 11:15 PM (IST)
By R Vishal
Sep 29, 2014
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wrapped up yet another clinical win as the Indian Premier League (IPL) champions’ winning streak continued for yet another game. Dolphins‘ had a a tall order in front of them and losing two wickets in two overs didn’t help matters. Skipper Morne van Wyk led a valiant fight up the order and at 57 for four, the match seemed dead and buried. However Khaya Zondo and Andile Phehlukwayo smashed the opposition bowling to send shivers in the Kolkata camp. Eventually the spin trio of Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav spun a web to make it 13 wins on the trot to extend the world record of wins in T20 franchise cricket.
Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey‘s stunning exhibition of brute and finesse in the 18th match of the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) to launch KKR to a formidable score of 187 for two. It was Dolphins who took early honours in the game through their pace duo Kyle Abbott and Robbie Frynlick but the bowlers wilted under the spectacular assault from the batting duo which resulted in KKR’s highest ever stand for all wickets. Uthappa and Pandey amassed 153 from just 90 deliveries.
Dolphins lost two early wickets in pursuit of a massive chase and were reeling after three overs with the score at _ for two. Cameron Delport and Cody Chetty were both dismissed going for the long hop and it was unlikely wicket-takers Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell who came to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) party.
Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Morne van Wyk were left to pick up the pieces and the Afrikaner duo struck some crisp shots to get the scoreboard moving. Kuldeep Yadav came on and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Dolphins were struggling at 26 for two in five overs.
Morne van Wyk led the Dolphins’ charge as he swept well and took on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowling with consummate ease. Sunil Narine was in for some uncharacteristic hammering to all parts as runs began to flow for the South African outfit.
Morne van Wyk, after doing all the initial hard work perished to the spin of Yusuf Pathan and it was minutes after Van van Jaarsveld also threw his wicket away to a bad shot and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were on top with the score of Dolphins at 57 for four at the end of nine overs.
18 year-old Phehlukwayo then smashed a few boundaries and a couple of massive sixes and at the rate at which Dolphins was going, Dolphins could have chased the target down. Narine’s magic fingers soon started to weave its yarn and with very few hitters left in the order, the chase fell apart. Narine was in on a hat-trick at one stage and KKR eventually cruised through to the semi-finals in some style as the juggernaut kept rolling and are certainly looking every bit the pre-tournament billing as favourites.
Brief scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 187 for 2 in 20 Overs (Robin Uthappa 85*, Manish Pandey 75*; Robbie Frynlick 1 for 39) beat Dolphins 151 for 8 in 20 Overs (Morne van Wyk 34, Khaya Zondo 34, Andile Phehlukwayo 37; Sunil Narine 3 for 33, Yusuf Pathan 2 for 25) by 36 runs.
Man of the Match: Robin Uthappa
Complete coverage of Champions League T20 (CLT20) 2014 here
R Vishal is a journalist, beach lover, Chelsea FC fan and a wannabe globetrotter. Being a loyal student of the Tariq Iqbal school of cricket stopped him from fulfilling his dream of becoming a cricketer. Now, he just writes and talks about the game; He can be followed on Twitter @vishhell)
