It was a clash of the titans at the Eden Gardens between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Both teams came into the match with their previous matches washed out and were raring to go. RCB going by their recent performance in the league entered the tie as pre-match favorites. But Kolkata displayed a clinical all round performance to register a convincing 47 runs victory to race to the second spot on the table while dumping RCB to fourth.
Here are some of the performances which shaped the outcome of the match between KKR and RCB.
Hits and flops of Kolkata Knight Riders:
Gautam Gambhir: He led from the front and played a captain’s innings to lead his team to a emphatic victory. He took the RCB bowlers to the cleaners and scored at an impressive strike rate of 183.25. He hit 93 of 51 deliveries which was laced with nine boundaries and five huge sixes.
Brendon McCullum: His batting prowess is known to all and he gave just the kind of start that they were looking his team would have wanted. He took the attack on to the bowlers and played a perfect opening partner to Gambhir. He scored 43 of 37 deliveries which included eight fours.
Jacques Kallis: He also played the second fiddle role to Gambhir quite perfectly. On a day when Gambhir was on a roll, Kallis made sure that KKR do not run out of steam at the other end. He scored 41 runs of just 27 balls including a four and three sixes.
Flops:
Yusuf Pathan: Big hitter Yusuf Pathan failed yet again. On a day when it the opposition’s bowling was looking the most vulnerable he missed out again.
Hits and flops of Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Chris Gayle: No surprises with Chris Gayle as he led the RCB batting again. On a day when he saw all the whole batting line-up collapse like a house of cards, he held on to his ground firm and played a breezy knock of 86. His knock came in 58 deliveries which consisted of seven fours and six sixes. He now also has become the holder of the orange cap.
Flops:
Bowling and batting department as a whole: It was a day when first their bowling department faltered and could not take up the challenge to Gauti and co. Their bowling performance saw KKR post 190 and then when it was required for their batsmen to perform, barring Gayle none of them could withstand the KKR bowling led by Brett Lee.
By Samikshan Dutta Choudhury
Indian Sports News
