Kolkata: Robin Uthappa and Andre Russell struck belligerent fifties after veteran Brad Hogg’s four-wicket haul to help Kolkata Knight Riders return to winning ways with a seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in a thriling Indian Premier League match here on Thursday.
Playing the formidable CSK for a second time in two days, KKR, who lost by two runs chasing 135 in the first leg clash, had a stiffer target of 166 to chase at the Eden Gardens after skipper Gautam Gambhir won the toss and once again opted to field.
Chasing the target, KKR found themselves in a familiar position as they were reduced to 57 for three. But last season’s top rungetter Robin Uthappa finally came good to steer the chase with a 58-ball unbetean 80, his 14th IPL fifty and first in this season. He struck seven boundaries and one six during his knock.
As KKR went into a shell and with the asking rate going up, Dhoni smartly brought in his inexperienced duo of Pawan Negi and More, who did not disappoint either by dismissing Pandey and Suryakumar Yadav respectively.
But Uthappa and Russell ensured that the packed house did not return disappointed.
Uthappa brought the crowd back on their feet when he slammed Ashish Nehra over his head and followed it up with two fours in the 15th over in which the veteran India seamer leaked 15 runs.
Russell struck Ravindra Jadeja for one four and six in the next over that yielded 14 runs as from then onwardsthe victory looked a formality for KKR with the hosts just needing 34 from 24 balls.
Earlier put into bat, CSK were off to an explosive start, courtesy Brendon McCullum’s 12 ball 32 (3x4s, 3x6s) and Faf du Plessis’ 11-ball 20 (5x4s), but the 44-year-old Hogg, who had come in as replacement for Sunil Narine, lived up to the faith by returning with magnificent figures of for for 29.
Hogg claimed the prized scalps of McCullum and Du Plessis in his first over and completed his spell with the wickets of Jadeja and Pawan Negi to restrict CSK to 165.
T20 format’s prized score of 200 was looking inevitable for CSK but Hogg turned around the fortunes for KKR.
Hogg dismissed McCullum LBW with his first ball after the latter tried to go for an expansive pull but failed to read the bounce and then in the fifth ball Du Plessis stepped out only to be stumped by wicket-keeper Robin Uthappa.
Dhoni (1) could survive just four balls before being castled by a Chawla wrong one as KKR bounced back in the game, even as CSK were 72 for five after 7 overs.
Bravo and Jadeja ensured that there was no further damage as they put on 50-run together in as many balls. (PTI)
