Hyderabad: Veteran Jacques Kallis brought his years of experience into play as he guided Kolkata Knight Riders to its maiden Oppo CLT20 final having comfortably beaten Australia’s Hobart Hurricanes by seven wickets, here on Thursday.
Chasing a target of 141, Kallis anchored the chase to perfection with an invaluable unbeaten 54 as the reigning IPL champions knocked off the runs in 19.1 overs to win their record 14th match on trot.
Kallis added 63 runs for the third wicket with Manish Pandey, whose 32-ball-40 also proved to be priceless in the final context of the match.
Kallis on his part hit four boundaries and two sixes in his 40-ball innings.
The legendary all-rounder, who will be turning 39, finished the match with a mistimed pull-shot off Doug Bollinger, which went for a six as Ben Hilfenhaus, failed to take a simple catch at deep backward square leg.
Pandey spanked the free-hit for a one-bounce four in the long-off region followed by a classic cover drive as KKR suddenly took control of the proceedings.
In the next over bowled by Bollinger, the Bangalore lad flicked the bowler for a six as the Hurricanes suddenly went off the boil.
It was vintage Kallis at his best after KKR lost their skipper Gautam Gambhir (4) and Robin Uthappa (17) for 44 runs on the board.
Earlier, opting to bat, Hobart couldn’t make best use of the conditions as they managed only 140 for six in the stipulated 20 overs.
Most of the Hobart batsmen found it difficult against a disciplined KKR attack barring city’s son-in-law Shoaib Malik, who smashed an unbeaten 66 off 46 balls with four boundaries and four sixes. Opener Ben Dunk made the other significant contribution with 39 off 29 balls with four boundaries and a six.
Courtesy Malik, Hurricanes could post a reasonable total as he launched into young chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav, who was taken for 21 runs in the penultimate over. He hit Kuldeep for two huge sixes and a couple of boundaries.
Narine, however again did a decent job finish with one for 24 in four overs getting Tarvis Birt’s wicket with a flighted delivery which the batsmen went for slog getting caught at the deep mid-wicket boundary. (PTI)
Brief Scores
Hobart Hurricanes: 140 for 6 in 20 overs. (S Malik 66*; Y Pathan 1/24, S Narine 1/24).
KKR: 141 for 3 in 19.1 overs.(Jacques Kallis 54*; D Bollinger 1/26).