IPL: Easy ride for Kolkata Knight Riders

Sport360 staff 01:31 09/04/2015
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  • Two good: Morne Morkel took a brace of early wickets, not giving Mumbai Indians the momentum to put on a fighting total.

    Rohit Sharma set the early pace at Eden Gardens last night but it was defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders who had the legs as they began the defence of their IPL crown with a seven-wicket win over Mumbai.

    Sharma’s impressive 98 powered the Indians to 168-3 but their total looked a little shy, helped by some disciplined, diligent and devilish bowling by Morne Morkel who finished with 2-18.

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    In reply, three of Kolkata’s opening five batsmen scored 40 or more with Gautam Gambhir top-scoring on 57 as the Knight Riders crossed the line with nine balls to spare.

    Gambhir said: “It was a tough total to chase, and the way we chased showed we were deserving winners. It was a very good wicket, but we never knew how it was going to behave. It was different to the usual wicket we see in Kolkata.

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    “The way Morne bowled, the way other guys bowled… it was exceptional.”

    Morkel began in impressive fashion as he removed Mumbai dangerman Aaron Finch for just eight when the Australian top-edged one to Umesh Yadav at deep square leg. Aditya Tare soon followed, mistiming a Shakib Al Hasan delivery with Yadav again taking a catch at long on.

    Ambati Rayudu continued the early collapse going for a duck with Morkel claiming his second victim.

    At 37-3 Mumbai were wobbling but then Sharma and Corey Anderson took over, lifting Mumbai to 168-3.

    Sharma hit Yadav for three boundaries in the third over. Mumbai’s captain brought up his half century with elegance and then went on to remain undefeated; his silky 98 coming off 65 deliveries with Yadav receiving the lion’s share of the punishment going for 12 an over.

    Anderson played a fine supporting role with 55 off 41 balls, but Morkel’s early wickets had done the damage.

    Star opener Robin Uthappa went for just nine as Harbhajan took a catch in the slips off the bowling of Anderson. But once Gambhir and Manish Pandey (40 off 24) added 85 runs for the second wicket it took the momentum away from Mumbai and Suryakumar Yadav’s magnificent 46 off 20 deliveries saw Kolkata home.

    Sharma said: “We were probably 10-15 runs short, but we should have done a little better with the ball. There was something for the bowlers still. We didn’t execute the plans well, but I hope the guys can pick it up and come out in a positive manner.

    “The wicket was really good, you saw how easily they chased down 170. It was a good knock, but ending up on the losing side doesn’t please you. I’m sure our guys can learn from the mistakes we made.”

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