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IPL: Warner, Henriques guide Sunrisers to five-run win over Kings XI

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warner

Hyderabad: Leading from the front, skipper David Warner struck a decent knock, while his bowlers bowled economically, picking up wickets at regular intervals to beat Kings XI Punjab by 5 runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Monday.

With the win, Sunrisers move two places up the points table from fifth position to third with 14 points from 12 games, having won seven and lost five, whereas Kings XI stayed at the bottom of the table struggling with just four points from 12 games.

Opting to bat first, Warner top-scored with a 52-ball 81, hitting six boundaries and five sixes to lift Sunrisers to a modest 185/5. In reply, despite a late cameo by David Miller (89 not out off 44 balls), the visitors fell short by just 5 runs, thereby ending their innings at 180/7 in 20 overs.

For the home side, Moises Henriques (3/16) and Bipul Sharma (2/13) were the pick of the bowlers.

Chasing a challenging 186-run target, Kings XI got off to a good start scoring 37 off the first four overs, but lost opener Murali Vijay (24) in the very next over. Shikhar Dhawan held on to a smart, low catch off the bowling off spinner Bipul Sharma.

His opening partner Manan Vohra (20) also got out trying to up the scoring rate. Incoming batsman Glenn Maxwell continued his poor run in IPL 2015, scoring just 11 off six deliveries, before being caught behind off the bowling of Trent Boult.

But Miller had other plans in mind. Right from the word go, his positive approach was reflected in his bat. Scoring freely against both pacers and spinners helped team score 100 in the 15th over.

But with wickets falling at the other end it, the South African was running out of partners. George Bailey (6), Gurkeerat Singh (3), Axar Patel (15) all fell one after the other.

Earlier in the innings, Sunrisers got off to a flying start with openers Warner and Shikhar Dhawan scoring 56 off first six overs.

But a bowling change by Kings XI captain George Bailey worked wonders for the visitors, as spinner Glenn Maxwell broke the opening stand in his very first ball of the seventh over

A clever Maxwell looped the ball up outside off seeing Dhawan stepping out of the crease. The batsman was beaten in flight and wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha made no mistake whipping the bails off in a flash.

The wicket did not bother Warner as he kept on scoring freely, thus bringing up his half-century in just 36 balls.

He was well supported in the other end by incoming batsman Moises Henriques (28). The duo struck the ball to all parts of the ground and also sneaked in quick singles and twos to help the team reach 100 in the 13th over.

But Henriques had to return back to the pavilion in the very next over as he was caught off the bowling off Gurkeerat Singh.

Eoin Morgan (17) and Naman Ojha (2) also did not last long.

For Kings XI, Beuran Hendricks (2/40) was the pick of the bowlers.

(IANS)

IPL: AB, Kohli power Bangalore to 39-run win over Mumbai

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AB de Villiers

Mumbai: AB de Villiers smashed a brilliant century and skipper Virat Kohli played the perfect foil as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) outscored Mumbai Indians by 39 runs in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter here on Sunday.

The win propelled RCB two places up the league ladder from sixth to fourth with 13 points in their kitty from 11 games.

In contrast, Sunrisers Hyderabad (12 from 11) dropped to the fifth place, whereas Mumbai (12 from 12) slipped to the sixth spot.

Riding on de Villiers’ (133, 59b, 19×4, 4×6) and skipper Kohli’s (82, 50b, 6×4, 4×6) unbeaten 215-run partnership for the second wicket, RCB piled up a massive 235/1.

In reply, Mumbai Indians could go only as far as 196/7 at the Wankhede stadium.

For RCB, Harshal Patel (2/34) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/51) were the pick of the bowlers.

For Mumbai, Lendl Simmons (68 not out off 53 balls) and Kieron Pollard (49 off 24 balls) showed some intent to chase down the rival total, unleashing some big shots but the duo’s efforts were not enough.

The home side got off to a worst possible start losing opener Parthiv Patel (19) in the fourth over.

Skipper Rohit Sharma (15) after striking one boundary and a six failed to read a slower ball by Harshal Patel, thus finishing in the grip of Mandeep Singh at long on.

But wickets did not bother opener Simmons and Pollard as the West Indies pair went all out at the bowlers.

After smashing six fours and two sixes, Pollard got a top edge from his bat which was gleefully accepted by Mitchell Starc.

Hardik Pandya (8), Ambati Rayudu (14), Harbhajan Singh (3) Jagadeesha Suchith (4) all fell soon after.

Earlier opting to bat, RCB got 14 runs off the first two overs, but what followed in the third over was some real drama.

Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma dropped Chris Gayle on the fourth ball off Mitchell McClenaghan and Harbhajan Singh spilled Virat Kohli’s catch in first slip off the next ball. Gayle and Kohli were 12 and 8, respectively, when the catches were dropped.

But Gayle (13 off 12) didn’t hurt them much as Lasith Malinga in the very next over got rid of the Jamaican left-hander.

Gayle looked to slap the slower off-cutter well outside off and got another thick edge to fine leg. At that point, RCB were 20/1 in 3.1 overs.

The swashbuckling de Villers did not take much time to settle down as he unleashed his skillful shots soon after along with Kohli.

De Villiers hit the ball mercilessly, bringing up his 50 in just 29 deliveries. He went on hitting, sweeping, slogging the ball to bring up his hundred in only 47 balls.

He was well supported at the other end by Kohli who played with ease scoring his half-century in 39 balls.

This was the sixth consecutive IPL season where Kohli has scored 300-plus runs. He also completed 3,000 runs in the IPL.

(IANS)

CSK conquer Royals to claim IPL top spot

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CSK

Chennai: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) climbed to the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL) points table with a 12-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in a league match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Sunday.

Chasing 158, Royals were restricted to 145 for nine in 20 overs.

CSK improved to 16 points from 12 matches, keeping Royals in the third spot with 14 points after 13 games.

Royals began their run-making process sedately with openers Ajinkya Rahane (23) and Shane Watson (28).

They mixed caution with aggression to build a strong platform for their team. Just as it seemed they have settled into a nice rhythm Rahane departed in the sixth over dismissed by Mohit Sharma.

No.3 batter Steve Smith (4) also didn’t last long as Royals slumped to 48 for two in the eighth over. But they received a bigger jolt when Watson had to depart, caught brilliantly by an acrobatic Dwayne Bravo at long on off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja in the 10th over.

Rajasthan’s situation worsened 11 balls later. Jadeja struck again to dismiss Karun Nair (10) to reduce Royals to 75 for four.

The asking rate steadily went up and Royals needed 73 runs off the last seven overs. But they just couldn’t muster the big hits needed to chase down the total.

Earlier, Brendon McCullum’s 81 off 61 balls lifted Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a fighting total of 157/5.

McCullum hit four sixes and seven fours and joined hands with Faf du Plessis (29) for a 101-run stand in 76 balls for the third wicket that was the driving force behind Chennai’s competitive score.

After electing to bat first, Chennai got off to a poor start, losing aggressive opening batsman Dwayne Smith (6) and ever-reliable Suresh Raina (3) inside four overs.

While left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma removed West Indian Smith, caught by James Faulkner, left-hander Raina too offered a catch to Faulkner off pacer Chris Morris to leave the hosts in spot of bother at 15/2.

Charismatic right-hander McCullum first tried to settle down, waiting for weak deliveries to pounce upon, like he did against off-spinner Pravin Tambe, who got hit for two sixes in the sixth over.

However, du Plessis ran himself out and afterwards McCullum also perished, offering a catch to Ankit for Morris’ second wicket. Morr is bagged his third after dismissing Pawan Negi for two.

Afterwards, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (not out 13) and Dwayne Bravo (not out 15) raised 28 runs in the final 15 deliveries of the innings to take Chennai to the decent total.

For Rajasthan, South African Morris was the best bowler, picking three wickets for just 19 runs in four overs.

(IANS)

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 328 runs in 2nd Test

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Pakistan cricketers pose for a group photograph with the tournament trophy following the presentation ceremony after the fourth day of the second cricket Test match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on May 9, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ Munir uz ZAMAN

Pakistan cricketers pose for a group photograph with the tournament trophy following the presentation ceremony after the fourth day of the second cricket Test match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on May 9, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ Munir uz ZAMAN

Dhaka: Leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed a match haul of seven wickets as dominant Pakistan crushed Bangladesh by 328 runs in the second and final Test in Dhaka on Saturday to clinch the series 1-0.

The hosts, who resumed their second innings at 63-1 chasing an improbable target of 550, were shot out for 221 in the post-lunch session of the fourth day at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Shah, who took three for 58 in the first innings, once again baffled the Bangladesh batsmen with his leg-spin and googly on the wearing pitch to grab four for 73 in the second knock.

Mominul Haque played a lone hand for the hosts with 68, joining West Indies great Vivian Richards and the Indian duo of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir as the only batsmen to score 50 runs or more in 11 consecutive Tests.

Shuvagata Hom hit 39, sharing a ninth-wicket stand of 44 with Mohammad Shahid, to steer Bangladesh past the 200-run mark after they were reduced to 143-7 soon after lunch.

The match ended at the fall of the ninth wicket as Shahadat Hossain was unable to bat after suffering a serious knee injury on the first day.

The win helped Pakistan end an otherwise dismal month-long tour on a positive note after being routed 3-0 in the one-day series and losing to Bangladesh for the first time in a Twenty20 International.

It was Bangladesh’s ninth loss to Pakistan in 10 Tests, the only consolation coming through a draw in the first Test of the short series in Khulna last week.

“This was a much-needed win for us … The team showed great character after what happened in the earlier games,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said.

“The key was the way Younis Khan and Azhar Ali batted in the first innings to put up a 250-run stand. There was also more bounce in this wicket than in Khulna which our bowlers enjoyed.

“But Bangladesh must be congratulated (for) the way they played on this tour. The draw in the first Test was like a victory for them. I wish them well for the future.”

‘Nothing went right for us’

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim said he was very disappointed at the defeat after losing a frontline bowler in Shahadat on the first morning.

“Nothing went right for us from the first day,” he said. “I don’t think we executed our plans well and that is why we lost the game.”

Rahim said his team would however take a lot of positives into next month’s one-off Test at home against India which will be followed by three One-Day Internationals.

“Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes had a good series and Mominul scores well consistently. But the bowlers need to be aggressive to keep us in the game for five days.

“They must realise that to compete and win Test matches, 20 wickets need to be taken. We will look to do that against India.”

Pakistan turned the screws on the hosts with four quick wickets in the morning session to leave the rivals tottering at 126 for five.

Seamer Imran Khan, a late replacement for the injured Rahat Ali, dealt two major blows when he removed the in-form Tamim and Mohammad Mahmudullah in the space of nine runs.

Tamim, who slammed a double-century in the first Test, was caught behind by wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed for 42 as he slashed at a short delivery from Imran.

Mahmudullah made two when he edged Imran to second slip where Younis Khan picked up the catch on second attempt as Bangladesh slipped from 86-1 to 95-3.

Off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez struck in his first over when Shakib Al Hasan (13) stepped out to loft a flighted ball and gave Wahab Riaz an easy catch at mid-off.

Brief scores: Pakistan 557/8 decl and 195-6 decl; Bangladesh 203 and 221.

(Agencies)

IPL: Mumbai Indians climb to fourth spot with win over CSK

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Mumbai Indians

Chennai: Mumbai Indians jumped to the fourth spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) standings with a crucial six-wicket victory over hosts Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a group league match at the M.A Chaidambaram Stadium here on Friday.

With the win, Mumbai climbed to the fourth spot with 12 points from 11 matches. CSK despite the loss stayed at the summit place with 14 points after 11 games. It was CSK’s first loss at their home ground in this year’s IPL.

Chasing 159 to win, Mumbai got a smooth start with opener Parthiv Patel (45) and Lendl Simmons (38) combining effectively to get them to a strong position.

It looked doomed for the home team as Mumbai were looked set to cruise to a comfortable victory with no CSK bowler managing to trouble the openers.

But just when it seemed all over for CSK, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (2/17) struck twice in the 11th over to jolt the Mumbai march.

They made further inroads when the dangerous West Indian power hitter Kieron Pollard (1) was run out in the next over.

Mumbai then found it difficult to get going. Skipper Rohit Sharma (18) and Ambati Rayadu (34 not out) tried to build a partnership to keep Mumbai’s run-making process ticking.

But Rohit was dropped in the 16th over by du Plessis off the bowling of Bravo after getting fooled into making an expansive shot and getting beaten by a slower delivery.

The miss could have jeopardised CSK’s hopes of a victory. But the budding 39-run partnership was broken in the 18th over by Bravo when he again flummoxed Rohit into a false stroke to be caught in the deep by Suresh Raina.

Hardik Pandya (21) came to the crease and showing no signs of nerves struck three lusty sixes off left-arm spinner Pawan Negi’s 19th over to inch Mumbai closer to victory. The bowler went for 25 runs to extinguish CSK’s chance to win.

Earlier, league leaders Chennai Super Kings (CSK) posted a fighting total of 158 for five on a slow and low pitch.

CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat. They were on the offensive from the very start with opener Dwayne Smith (27) and Brendon McCullum (23) threatening to cut loose with aggressive shots.

But three quick wickets of McCullum, Suresh Raina (10) and Smith halted their progress

Faf du Plessis (17) and Dhoni (39 not out) resurrected their innings and gave them a necessary platform to accelerate in the slog overs in the sluggish pitch.

After du Plessis’ dismissal in the 16th over, Dhoni along with Pawan Negi (36) helped CSK post a fighting total.

Negi eclipsed Dhoni in power hitting, taking just 17 balls for his useful knock, studded with four boundaries and a six while Dhoni took 32 balls for his 39, hitting two fours and two sixes.

(IANS)

Pakistan push for win in Dhaka Test

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Pakistan cricketer Yasir Shah celebrates with his teammates after the dismissal of the Bangladesh cricketer Imrul Kayes during thee third day of the second test in Dhaka. AFP

Pakistan cricketer Yasir Shah celebrates with his teammates after the dismissal of the Bangladesh cricketer Imrul Kayes during thee third day of the second test in Dhaka. AFP

Dhaka: Pakistan set Bangladesh an improbable victory target of 550 runs and claimed the wicket of opener Imrul Kayes to inch closer to a series-clinching win in the second and final Test on Friday.

The visitors, who have failed to win a single match on their tour, skittled out the hosts for 203 in the first innings on the third morning but refused to enforce follow-on.

Pakistan decided to bat instead and declared their second innings on 195 for six for an overall lead of 549 runs.

In reply, Bangladesh reached 63 for one in their second innings at stumps, still 487 runs behind the target with Tamim Iqbal (32) and Mominul Haque (15) at the crease.

Resuming on 107 for five, Bangladesh lost two quick wickets to fast bowler Wahab Riaz (3-73), leaving Shakib Al Hasan (89 not out) stranded at one end.

Left-handed Shakib, who hit 14 boundaries and two sixes, ran out of partners in the end with injured paceman Shahadat Hossain absent hurt.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed 3-58 for Pakistan.

Bangladesh managed to take three quick wickets in Pakistan’s second innings, with paceman Mohammad Shahid taking out the openers in his first spell.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq blasted 82 off 72 balls to help his team accumulate quick runs and added 58 for the fourth wicket with Younus Khan (39).

Pakistan declared after Misbah holed out in the deep off part-time spinner Mahmudullah.

Bangladesh needed Tamim and Imrul to replicate their 312-run second innings opening stand that helped the hosts draw the last Test at Khulna but that was not to be.

Yasir bowled left-hander Imrul (16) to break the 48-run opening stand with a delivery that turned in sharply to hit the stumps.

(Agencies)

IPL: All round performance gift KKR third home win on the trot against Daredevils

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kkr-dd

Kolkata: A superb allround performance enabled Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinch their third home game on the trot with a 13-run Awin over Delhi Daredevils in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter here on Thursday.

Chasing the Knights’ 171/7, the Daredevils could only reach 158/6 at the end of their allotted 20 overs at the Eden Gardens.

The victory propelled the hosts to the third position on the leaderboard, with 13 points from 11 games. The Daredevils now languish in the seventh position, collecting eight points from eleven outings.

Shreyas Iyer (40;35b, 3×4 2×6) Atop scored for the Daredevils, while man of the match Piyush Chawla (four for 32) was the pick of the bowlers for the home side.

Chasing the Knights’ total, the visitors got off to a steady start, with openers Manoj Tiwary and Iyer ensuring there were no early jolts, even though the bowlers kept them on a leash.

Just when the partnership seemed threatening for the home side, Chawla got rid of Tiwary( 25). Iyer soon followed his partner into the dugout chopping a Brad Hoog drifter on to his stumps, with the team total reading 71/2 in 10.6 overs.

Kedar Jadav and skipper JP Duminy steadied the innings lofting a few into the stands, but an otherwise expensive Chawla turned the game on his head as he pocketed both Jadav (10) and Yuvraj Singh (0) in the 14thAover.

Daredevils’ went past the 100 run mark in the 15th over but then lost their well set skipper Duminy (25;16b, 2×4 1×6) as he heaved another Chawla delivery straight down the throat of Umesh Yadav in the deep.

The 17th over from Hogg proved expensive as the willowers belted him for 17. However the next one from Umesh was bang on target yielding just seven. Russell followed it up with another stupendous over giving away only six runs and cleaning Angelo Mathews (22).

Earlier in the day, the Knights rode on late cameos from all-rounder Yusuf Pathan and South African spinner Johan Botha (17; 5b, 4×4).

Playing as many as four front line spinners including spin ace Sunil Narine, Knights skipper Gautam Gambhir chose to bat first after winning the toss.

Pathan (42;24b 3×4 3×6) hit some lusty blows to top score for his side. Opener Robin Uthappa (32; 31b 4×4 1×6) also played a useful innings.

For the visitors, spinner Imran Tahir returned figures of 2 for 46.

(IANS)

IPL: Chris Gayle leads Kings XI rout

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Royal Challengers Bangalore's Chris Gayle celebrates after competing his 100 runs during IPL 8 match against Kings XI Punjab in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Photo: Shailendra Bhojak, PTI

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Chris Gayle celebrates after competing his 100 runs during IPL 8 match against Kings XI Punjab in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Photo: Shailendra Bhojak, PTI

Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), riding high on a hurricane century by Chris Gayle, handed out a massive 138-run defeat to a spiritless and spineless Kings XI Punjab in an Indian Premier League match and moved into the fourth spot with their fifth win in 10 outings here on Wednesday.

It was a hiding of sorts as RCB piled up 226 for three which left visiting skipper George Bailey ruing his decision to field after winning the toss, and under pressure, the visitors collapsed to 88 in 13.4 overs as pacemen Mitchell Starc (4 for 15) and Sreenath Aravind (4 for 24) sliced through the line-up.

Gayle struck a brilliant 117 off 57 balls, with seven fours and 12 sixes.

For Kings XI Punjab, runners-up last season, but looking like ragtag team, it was their fifth consecutive defeat in 10 matches, leaving them at the bottom of the eight-team league with just four points with little hopes of qualifying for the playoffs.

RCB, with a massive total on the board, bowled well even as the Kings XI batsmen, barring Axar Patel (40 not out, 21b, 5×4, 2×6) showed little or no determination to even make a fight of it, much less win the game.

The early dismissals of openers Manan Vohra (2) who replaced Virender Sehwag, and Murali Vijay (2), took the wind out of Kings XI sails.

It was a regular procession thereafter before Axar Patel used the long handle, but to little effect as wickets fell in a heap at the other end.

RCB, thus, recorded their biggest IPL victory (in terms of runs), beating their previous best of 130-run win over Pune Warriors in 2013, at this very venue when Gayle smashed his highest T20 score of 175.

Earlier, it was all about Gayle and his 14th T20 century as he led a merciless onslaught on the Punjab bowlers who were made to look ordinary while the home batsmen rained 18 sixes and 14 boundaries on a balmy night when the rains stayed away.

The visiting attack had no answer to first Gayle, who was let off when on 27 with Bailey unable to get to a skier off Sandeep Sharma in the third over of the innings.

The lapse proved costly as Gayle showcased his brute power as well as a fine sense of timing to gallop to his century.

Spearhead Mitchell Johnson, bowling at some speed, leaked 43 runs in his four overs while left-arm spinner Axar Patel went for 51.

Only seamer Anureet Singh, though wicketless, looked the part, conceding just 25 runs in four overs.

Gayle and skipper Virat Kohli (32) laid the platform with a 119-run partnership for the first wicket in just 11.2 overs before the innovative de Villiers joined the Jamaican to heap more misery on Punjab bowlers.

Along with de Villiers, Gayle, who completed 3,000 runs in IPL, added 72 runs before offering a tame return catch to Patel.

The South African then took over and though he lost Dinesh Karthik (8), picked up some easy runs in the company of young Sarfaraz Khan (11 not out) to ensure RCB a winning total.

(IANS)

Mumbai Indians peaking at right time: Skipper Rohit

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Mumbai Indians

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians’ (MI) skipper Rohit Sharma on Tuesday said with four back-to-back victories, the side has got the momentum and is peaking at the right time for the later part of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

After Yuvraj Singh’s late blitz helped Delhi Daredevils post 152/6, Ambati Rayudu and Rohit Sharma displayed excellent batting skills to help Mumbai reach 153/5 in 19.3 overs, registering a five-wicket win here.

“We are peaking at the right time. We are not thinking about the table right now as it’s very complicated and very tight. Every team is close to each other,” Rohit said at the post-match press conference.

“What happens at the end of May 17 is important. We are focusing and trying to take each game at a time. It is important we stay in the present and think about the next game.”

Mumbai have suffered a jolt ahead of their next match against Chennai Super Kings on Friday in Chennai as their Sri Lankan pace spearhead Lasith Malinga will not travel with the team. Sri Lankan players are barred from playing at the venue.

“We will surely miss him. He has been a crucial member of our team. His absence will be felt. This gives an opportunity to someone else to come and prove,” Rohit said.

For Mumbai, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (2-11) and Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga (2-33) were the main wicket-takers against Delhi.

Speaking on Harbhajan’s performance, the skipper said, “He has been bowling superbly right from the start of the season. He is an experienced player and knows how and when to bowl what.

“He is taking wickets, keeping runs in check, feels good as a captain.”

(IANS)

IPL: KKR bowlers stifle Sunrisers into submission

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KKR

Kolkata: A stifling bowling effort enabled Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) carve out a 35-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Eden Gardens here on Monday.

Umesh Yadav (2 for 34) came up with a sensational opening over while Brad Hogg (2 for 17) and the other bowlers choked the Sunrisers to submission as the visitors were restricted to 132/9 in reply to the decent 167/7 posted by the Knight Riders.

The victory carried the Knights to the third spot in the league table with 11 points from 10 games. Sunrisers are still fifth with eight points from nine outings.

Chasing a 168-run target, the visitors were jolted at the start of their innings with pacer Umesh Yadav disturbing rival skipper David Warner’s (4) citadel in the third delivery and then castling Naman Ojha (0) with his last ball. After over one, the Sunriders were 6/2.

Shikhar Dhawan(15) was the next man out as the Sunrisers were reduced to 29/3 in the fifth over.

All-rounder Moises Henriques, however, then took the matter into his own hands as he smashed Yusuf Pathan for 19 runs in his first over.

The 50 came up in 6.5 overs but the innings stuttered again as the Sunrisers kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and found themselves in all sorts of bother at 69/6 by the 12th with two dismal run-outs adding to their woes.

Henriques’ (41; 33b, 2×4, 2×6) lone battle ended soon as he top edged one to Manish Pandey in the deep.

Karn Sharma (32; 21b, 0x4, 3×6) Aprovided some late entertainment for the scanty crowd as he belted off-spinner Johan Botha for three consecutive sixes, but by then the die had already been cast.

Earlier in the night, the Knights were off on a canter as skipper Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa plundered 50 runs of just 5.3 overs.

However, Gambhir (31; 23b, 5×4) fell soon thereafter trying to hit Karn Sharma for a biggie.

Uthappa (30; 27b, 3×4) and Jamaican hard-hitter Andre Russell (1) followed their leader into the dugout a little while later, even as the scoreboard kept ticking along at a decent pace.

The 100 came up in the 13th over, and just as KKR looked settled with Manish Pandey and Ryan ten Doeschate, the former fell short of his crease trying to sneak a single amidst indecision.

Three more wickets fell thereafter as KKR scraped past the 160-run mark to post a decent total.

For Sunrisers, Karn Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed two wickets each while Pathan played an unbeaten cameo of 30 in 19 balls for KKR.

(IANS)

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