After ‘fighting’ for three IPL seasons and failing each time, all Kolkata Knight Riders are hungry to win. And that is clearly visible in the strength with which they have started the season. The last breath defeat to champions Chennai Super Kings has not affect the side that has won the next two games. On Friday, new skipper Gautam Gambhir and the rock-solid Jacques Kallis were too good as they rolled aside hosts Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets.
A team missing their favourite left-handed batsman found another as Gambhir lashed a 44-ball 75 not out- 50 of them in boundaries while Kallis was unconquered on 80, their stand worth 152.The Royals began a slow but steady build-up and when they put up 159 for four, they would have been confident it was competitive. The addition of Australian all-rounder Shane Watson would have further added to their self-belief.
Promoting himself to No. 3, Gambhir, displaying superb footwork, joined hands with Kallis and gave fans back in Kolkata much to celebrate on the Bengali New Year day. Some forceful blows later, the visitors were home with 10 balls to spare. With 28 required from as many balls, Royals finally thought they had found a breakthrough when Gambhir pulled a short one from Siddharth Trivedi to be caught by Johan Botha at deep midwicket.
Just when the Royals started to celebrate, umpire Aleem Dar signalled a no ball. Reason? There were only three fielders inside the 30-yard circle, one less than mandatory. Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan too had his moment after being drafted into the side by KKR for his first game; he bowled the national team's recent tormentor Watson and gestured ‘finished’.
IPL 2011 - News
A team missing their favourite left-handed batsman found another as Gambhir lashed a 44-ball 75 not out- 50 of them in boundaries while Kallis was unconquered on 80, their stand worth 152.The Royals began a slow but steady build-up and when they put up 159 for four, they would have been confident it was competitive. The addition of Australian all-rounder Shane Watson would have further added to their self-belief.
Promoting himself to No. 3, Gambhir, displaying superb footwork, joined hands with Kallis and gave fans back in Kolkata much to celebrate on the Bengali New Year day. Some forceful blows later, the visitors were home with 10 balls to spare. With 28 required from as many balls, Royals finally thought they had found a breakthrough when Gambhir pulled a short one from Siddharth Trivedi to be caught by Johan Botha at deep midwicket.
Just when the Royals started to celebrate, umpire Aleem Dar signalled a no ball. Reason? There were only three fielders inside the 30-yard circle, one less than mandatory. Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan too had his moment after being drafted into the side by KKR for his first game; he bowled the national team's recent tormentor Watson and gestured ‘finished’.
IPL 2011 - News
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