Steady Kolkata shut out Sunrisers

GAME 43: Yusuf Pathan and Ryan ten Doeschate hold their nerve to pull off a testing 143-run chase.

THAT WINNING FEELING (SPORTZPICS)

UPPAL: Kolkata Knight Riders held their nerve on Sunday night to bring Sunrisers Hyderabad to the brink of elimination from IPL-7. The win also boosted Kolkata's own chances of slipping into the business end of the competition as the fourth-best team. After restricting Hyderabad to an under-inspiring 142/8 on a shimmering batting track at Uppal, Knight Riders maintained their focus against a world-class bowling line up to wrap up the chase with two balls to spare.

While Robin Uthappa’s colourful 40 and Manish Pandey’s somewhat disengaged 35 provided a solid platform to a moderate pursuit, it was Yusuf Pathan's and Ryan ten Doeshate’s 42-run stand for the fourth wicket that sealed the deal for a seven-wicket win. Pathan struck an impressive 28-ball 39 and ten Doeschate a timely 15-ball 25 as Kolkata boosted their chances of making the cut for the final four. Sunrisers now need to win their three remaining matches to have any hope of qualifying.

BOWLERS SET IT UP

Kolkata’s bowlers had earlier controlled the first innings like a dominatrix, giving just enough leeway to the batting side to allow the reeling in to be fun. Umesh Yadav, 3/26 and Man of the Match, was unrelentingly fast, Sunil Narine regulation puzzling while Piyush Chawla used the googly to good effect. Hyderabad relieved Dhawan of captaincy to let him focus solely on batting. Sammy thus returned, as captain. The move appeared to be an astute one – at least to start with.

Dhawan cracked four boundaries in his 19, but top-edged Narine to the deep attempting a heave-ho sweep - having just been beaten on the same shot – in the last over of the Powerplay. Hyderabad were 41/2 at the end of six overs. 

Uthappa's association with misses began in the first essay. He fluffed a stumping of Naman Ojha that allowed the batsman to get away for a couple of sixes. But it was really a fast-paced 34-run stand between David Warner and Lokesh Rahul that kept Sunrisers in the hunt for a decent total. The Aussie was stunning in his 18-ball 34, which included sixes off Morne Morkel and Shakib. Warner looked good for more when he struck Umesh brutally and straight into the hands of the mid-wicket fielder.

Hyderabad were on 104 then, In the remaining 40 deliveries, they scored just 38. The big responsibility then was on Sammy, but  it was curtains once the captain slogged out to a Shakib full-toss. Irfan Pathan ploughed a lone furrow as Umesh returned to bowl a brilliant last over, stamping the innings close with a swirling yorker into Steyn’s stumps.

GAMBHIR GOES FUMING
Kolkata’s chase began equally dramatically. Given caught behind after he flayed and apparently missed at a Steyn out-swinger in the second over of the chase, Gautam Gambhir stormed off in a huff of obscenity, leaving Uthappa in charge of on-field entertainment. 

Uthappa did not disappoint. He was dropped by Dhawan in the cover region off Steyn and responded by flicking the fast bowler casually for six. Then Mishra almost bowled him with a googly. Again, Uthappa replied by pulverizing the leg-spinner through the off-side. His knock ended on 40 when he dropped his bat trying to backtrack after an aborted single. Pandey’s wayward 35 too was interrupted with Kolkata some 40 adrift of victory. But Pathan and ten Doeschate ascertained that their team did not revert to ways of old with a nerveless partnership.