If T20 cricket is often about springing a surprise or two to catch the opponents on the wrong foot, Kolkata Knight Riders had one up their sleeves yesterday when they beat Kings XIâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088Punjab by eight wickets
Umesh Yadav, Gautam Gambhir
Kolkata: If T20 cricket is often about springing a surprise or two to catch the opponents on the wrong foot, Kolkata Knight Riders had one up their sleeves yesterday when they beat Kings XIâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088Punjab by eight wickets.
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Gautam Gambhir
Eyebrows were raised when Sunil Narine, feared more for the mystery in his bowling, accompanied Gautam Gambhir to fill the openers slot left vacant by an injured Chris Lynn.
By the time he departed, the West Indian had scored 37 off 18 balls with the help of four boundaries and three sixes. The 76 runs off 5.4 overs was just the start the hosts wanted as they chased a target of 171 against Kings XI Punjab.
Gambhir was solid as usual and and anchored the innings well with an unbeaten 72 as KKRâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088raced to 171 for the loss of two wickets in 16.3 overs. Manish Pandey was not out on 25. Earlier, the Knights did well to restrict their opponents on a wicket that promised much more.
Kolkata Knight Riders' Umesh Yadav in full cry against Kings XI Punjab at the Eden Gardens yesterday. He claimed four for 33. Pics/AFP
Umesh Yadav, playing his first match after a rest, finished with four wickets, three of them in the 18th.
Kings XI got off to a rollicking start. The first five overs produced 53 runs with Manan Vohra matching Hashim Amla stroke for stroke. Glenn Maxwell was also batting well for his 25 off 14 balls but fell to Yadav.
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