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IPL 10 KKR VS Gujrat Lions 3rd Match Highlights:KKR openers demolish Gujarat Lions in season opener

IPL 10 KKR VS Gujrat Lions 3rd Match Highlights:KKR openers demolish Gujarat Lions in season opener

Coming into the season opener at the Lion’s home ground in Rajkot, history was not quite in favour of the Kolkata Knightriders, having lost both of last season’s games to the newbies and eventual table toppers Gujarat Lions. That, and the fact that they were missing key all-rounders Andre Russell (kept out on doping offences) and Shakib al-Hasan, who is on duty for the Bangladesh national side against Sri Lanka, added up to the worries of the touring side. However, it should be pointed out that the home side was at a more severe loss, with Indian star player Ravindra Jadeja and West Indian Dwayne Bravo missing in the Lions’ lineup.

All this promised to make for interesting cricket, but in the end it was some cruel batting by new addition Lynn and old hand Gambhir that brought the house down. Put to bat first on a pitch that did little for the bowlers, the Lions posted a rather competitive total of 184/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Brendon Mccullum scored a swift 35 against his old team, after debutant Jason Roy departed early to a top edge off spinner Piyush Chawla. However, after he fell followed closely by Aaron Finch, it was left to skipper Raina and Dinesh Karthick to take the Lions to a decent score, and that they did with some finesse. Raina got his 29th fifty of the IPL, while Karthick scored 47, his innings dotted with two sixes and six fours. It could still be felt though that the home side were short by quite some runs, and it promised to be an interesting run chase for KKR.

Opening for KKR, Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn were tasked with a solid opening to lay a foundation to the run chase, something the KKR have proved themselves very good at over the last several years. However, as it turned out, they built the foundation and then some – with Lynn racing to the second fastest century for KKR in IPL, and Gambhir to his 32nd IPL fifty with a fine boundary. It was a poor bowling performance by the Lions, the inexperience of the attack showing under pressure and in the absence of Jadeja and Bravo. Gambhir and Lynn helped the Kolkata side get to the required score of 185 in a mere 14.5 overs, in the process making the highest opening partnership for KKR and also the most successful run chase in the IPL.

 

KKR will certainly be very pleased with their performance in this season opener, for they exacted revenge for the last season and in some style. The Lions side have a lot to worry about, from the poor bowling attack to the awful fielding, especially under pressure. Captain Raina did see a silver lining in the depth of the batting order, and he is counting on his batters and the return of his star all-rounders to recover from this poor start, if they are to advance beyond the playoffs this year to be in the league with the big teams.

About the author

Shruti Bhatt

Shruti Bhatt is an engineering graduate, consumed with her passions day in and day out. An avid moviemaniac, a foodie, a bibliophile, and coffee-fashion-music enthusiast, Ms. Bhatt is on the way of becoming a raconteur - the word she is most fascinated with.

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