IPL, Highlights - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Lions: Dinesh Karthik Fifty, Aaron Finch Cameo Help GL Defeat KKR By Five Wickets
A well-compiled half-century from Dinesh Karthik followed by a cameo from Aaron Finch guided Gujarat Lions to a five-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. Catch all the highlights of this match here.
After being put in to bat, Kolkata Knight Riders got off a worst possible start as they lost four wickets inside powerplay and were in the danger of being bowled out for a low score. But Yusuf Pathan and Shakib Al Hasan came to the rescue and their unbroken 134-run stand helped the hosts post 158/4. In reply, Gujarat Lions' batsmen were on the money right from the word go but it was Dinesh Karthik's fifty and Aaron Finch's quickfire knock of 29 that won them the match comfortably with 12 balls to spare. Catch all the highlights here (SCORECARD | STREAMING | POINTS TABLE | FIXTURES | NEWS | PLAY FANTASY LEAGUE)
23:45 hrs IST: That's it. Thank you for joining us today. See you all tomorrow for the clash between Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Until then, it's goodbye. Cheers!ÂÂ
Praveen Kumar (Man of the Match): "I'm very happy that we bowled as per plan today. Raina has always said that I need to bowl two in the start and two later, he gives a lot of confidence so maybe I'm bowling well because of that."
Suresh Raina (GL skipper): "It was a very crucial game. Games in Kolkata are always special. Credit goes to our bowlers, they took those crucial wickets and again Baz and Smith gave us a good partnership. When you have too many options, you get confused. You always back your best bowler to bowl in the final overs."
Gautam Gambhir (KKR skipper): "I think the way Shakib and Yusuf batted, they got us to a total we could bowl at. But we didn't start well, we could have batted more cleverly. Credit goes to Praveen and Dhawal, you need to pick wickets early and they did that."
© BCCI
23:21 hrs IST: SIX! That's the end. GL defeat KKR by five wickets to seal their 7th win of the season.ÂÂ
23:13 hrs IST: FOUR! And that's fifty for Karthik. His 12th in IPL. Outstanding innings!ÂÂ
23:10 hrs IST: Two FOURS and a SIX for Finch. Magnificent! He moves to 29 off just 10 balls. GL now require 8 off 24 balls. It's time for second strategic time-out.ÂÂ
23:07 hrs IST: GL now require 24 off 30 balls.ÂÂ
23:06 hrs IST: SIX and a FOUR for Finch. It's all too easy for GL now.ÂÂ
23:03 hrs IST: FOUR! 7th boundary for Karthik. GL now require 39 off 36 balls.ÂÂ
23:02 hrs IST: OUT! Raina c Hogg b Russell 14(18).ÂÂ
22:58 hrs IST: Eight runs off Morkel's last. He finishes with figures of 0/38. GL now require 48 off 42 balls.ÂÂ
22:54 hrs IST: Two runs off the last ball for Karthik. GL now require 56 off 48 balls.ÂÂ
22:51 hrs IST: SIX! Short ball from Umesh, Karthik comes down the track and tries to hook it but instead gets a top-edge that sails over fine leg boundary.ÂÂ
22:49 hrs IST: Good over from Morkel. Just four off it. GL now require 66 off 54 balls.ÂÂ
22:44 hrs IST: Eight runs off Umesh's first. GL now require 70 off 60 balls.ÂÂ
22:38 hrs IST: Three boundaries in a row from Karthik. GL are 81/2 after 9 overs. It's time for strategic time-out.ÂÂ
Hat-trick of boundaries for @DineshKarthik. The juggernaut rolls on!
- The Gujarat Lions (@TheGujaratLions) May 8, 2016
78 needed off 66 balls! #GameMaariChhe #KKRvGL pic.twitter.com/VVkls3bLTV
22:36 hrs IST: FOUR! Pitched up, Karthik gets into position and reverse-sweeps it past the fielder at short fine leg.ÂÂ
22:34 hrs IST: Hogg into the attack now.ÂÂ
22:30 hrs IST: WICKET! McCullum c Pandey b Chawla 29(24). GL are 67/2 after 7.5 overs.ÂÂ
22:25 hrs IST: Two SIXES for McCullum. GL are 63/1 after 7 overs.ÂÂ
22:23 hrs IST: FOUR! Short delivery from Morkel, McCullum makes a little room and slaps it to deep extra cover.ÂÂ
22:18 hrs IST: OUT! Smith b Shakib 27(18). GL are 42/1 after 5.3 overs.ÂÂ
22:13 hrs IST: GL are 34/0 after 4 overs.ÂÂ
22:11 hrs IST: FIVE-WIDES! KKR need to keep it tight.ÂÂ
22:10 hrs IST: GL are 23/0 after 3 overs. Russell to continue.ÂÂ
22:06 hrs IST: Two boundaries for Smith. Just what GL need at this stage.ÂÂ
22:04 hrs IST: GL are 10/0 after 2 overs.ÂÂ
22:01 hrs IST: FOUR! Back of a length delivery from Morkel and Smith smacks it to deep mid-wicket for his first boundary.ÂÂ
21:59 hrs IST: Tidy over from Russell. GL are 1/0 after first over.ÂÂ
21:56 hrs IST: McCullum and Smith to open for Gujarat. Russell will bowl the first over.ÂÂ
© BCCI
21:45 hrs IST: This is the highest fifth-wicket stand in IPL.ÂÂ
21:40 hrs IST: And that's the end of first innings. KKR finish on 158/4 in their 20 overs. This unbeaten 134-run partnership has put the hosts in the driver's seat. We'll be back in a few minutes time.ÂÂ
21:37 hrs IST: SIX! Slower ball from Bravo, Shakib gets into position and launches it into the deep mid wicket stands.ÂÂ
21:34 hrs IST: 12 runs off Praveen's over. KKR are 145/4 after 19 overs.ÂÂ
21:30 hrs IST: FOUR! That's fifty for Shakib. His 2nd in IPL.ÂÂ
He took his time, got set and simply launched in the bowling! Batting masterclass from @Sah75official #KKRvGL pic.twitter.com/hXdiz8FCom
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 8, 2016
21:29 hrs IST: Praveen to bowl the penultimate over.ÂÂ
21:28 hrs IST: An extremely expensive over from Bravo. 15 runs off it. KKR are 133/4 after 18 overs.ÂÂ
21:24 hrs IST: Consecutive sixes for Shakib. 100 partnership up between him and Pathan. This could even be the match-winning partnership for KKR.ÂÂ
21:22 hrs IST: 10 runs off Kulkarni's last. He finishes with figures of 1/29. KKR are 118/4 after 17 overs.ÂÂ
21:13 hrs IST: Single and that's fifty for Pathan. His 11th in IPL. KKR are 108/4 after 16 overs.ÂÂ
Half century off just 31 balls! @iamyusufpathan leads the fight for the #Knights #KKRvGL #AmiKKR pic.twitter.com/kYkWlZVEA9
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 8, 2016
21:10 hrs IST: SIX! Short and wide from Bravo, Shakib dances down the track, makes room, and clobbers it into deep extra cover boundary. 100 up for KKR.ÂÂ
21:07 hrs IST: FOUR! Pathan makes room and hits it well past the fielder at backward point. KKR are 98/4 after 15 overs. It's time for second strategic time-out.ÂÂ
21:03 hrs IST: Good over from Tambe. Just five off it. KKR are 88/4 after 14 overs.ÂÂ
21:00 hrs IST: Costly over from Jadeja. Nine off it. KKR are 83/4 after 13 overs.ÂÂ
20:56 hrs IST: FOUR! Too short from Tambe and Pathan hammers it in the gap between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg. KKR are 74/4 after 12 overs.ÂÂ
20:52 hrs IST: Seven runs off Jadeja's first. KKR are 64/4 after 11 overs.ÂÂ
20:49 hrs IST: FOUR! Fuller delivery from Kaushik and Pathan thumps it through the covers for his second boundary. KKR are 57/4 after 10 overs.ÂÂ
20:47 hrs IST: SIX! Overpitched delivery from Kaushik and Pathan whacks it straight down the ground for a maximum.ÂÂ
20:43 hrs IST: Great over from Bravo. Just two off it. KKR are 43/4 after 9 overs. It's time for strategic time-out.ÂÂ
20:38 hrs IST: FOUR! Too full from smith and Smith flicks it to deep backward square leg for his first boundary. KKR are 41/4 after 8 overs.ÂÂ
20:36 hrs IST: Smith to continue.
© BCCI
20:34 hrs IST: Five runs off Kulkarni's third. KKR are 33/4 after 7 overs.ÂÂ
20:29 hrs IST: OUT! What a catch from Raina at first slip! Simply amazing. Smith gets his first. KKR are 24/4 after 5.5 overs.ÂÂ
.@ImRaina holds onto a blinder #KKRvGL #VIVOIPLhttps://t.co/ezf27huI2L
- IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 8, 2016
20:24 hrs IST: Maiden over from Praveen. His figures read: 3-1-7-2
20:22 hrs IST: Tidy over from Kulkarni. Fours runs and a wicket. KKR are 21/3 after 4 overs.ÂÂ
Dhawal 'Cool'karni gets the temperature soaring in the @KKRiders dugout tonight. What an over that was! ?? #GameMaariChhe #KKRvGL
- The Gujarat Lions (@TheGujaratLions) May 8, 2016
20:19 hrs IST: OUT! Uthappa c Karthik b Kulkarni 14(10). KKR are 21/3 after 3.3 overs.
20:16 hrs IST: Two runs off the last ball for SK Yadav. Brilliant over from Praveen. KKR are 17/2 after 3 overs.ÂÂ
20:13 hrs IST: Another WICKET. What is happening! Pandey c Karthik b Praveen 0(2). KKR are 15/2 after 2.3 overs.ÂÂ
20:12 hrs IST: In walks Manish Pandey at number three.ÂÂ
20:11 hrs IST: WICKET! Gambhir b Praveen 5(6).ÂÂ
Situation zara 'Gambhir' ho gaya. Our ROAR is too loud @KKRiders. Beware! ?? #GameMaariChhe #KKRvGL
- The Gujarat Lions (@TheGujaratLions) May 8, 2016
20:09 hrs IST: Consecutive fours for Uthappa. Length ball from Kulkarni (on both occasions), and Uthappa plays a lovely drive through extra cover. KKR are 15/0 after 2 overs.ÂÂ
20:06 hrs IST: Dhawal Kulkarni into the attack now.ÂÂ
20:04 hrs IST: Decent start from Praveen. KKR are 5/0 after first over.ÂÂ
20:01 hrs IST: Uthappa gets off the mark with a single at mid-on.ÂÂ
19:59 hrs IST: It's time for live action. Gambhir and Uthappa make their way out in the middle. Praveen Kumar to start the proceedings for Gujarat.ÂÂ
19:57 hrs IST: And that's also the reason of KKR performing consistently this season (so far)!ÂÂ
Consistency is priceless. #Gauthappa are priceless #KKRvGL #AmiKKR pic.twitter.com/FdsvLzalnt
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 8, 2016
19:33 hrs IST: Here are the playing XI of both teams:ÂÂ
KKR: Gautam Gambhir (c), Robin Uthappa (wk), Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell, Suryakumar Yadav, Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawla, Brad Hogg, Morne Morkel, Umesh YadavÂÂ
GL: Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith, Aaron Finch, Suresh Raina (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Pravin Tambe, Shivil Kaushik, Dhawal KulkarniÂÂ
19:31 hrs IST: Gujarat Lions skipper Suresh Raina wins the toss and elects to bowl first.ÂÂ
19:26 hrs IST: So SRH thrash MI by 85 runs and move to top of the table.ÂÂ
19:25 hrs IST: Toss in five minutes.ÂÂ
19:18 hrs IST: Sunrisers Hyderabad are on the verge of a big win against Mumbai Indians at Vizag.ÂÂ
19:11 hrs IST: Wow!ÂÂ
As a captain, @GautamGambhir has lost just 2 games at the Eden Gardens since #IPL 2014 #KKRStats #AmiKKR #KKRvGL
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 8, 2016
19:07 hrs IST: And as always, KKR have brilliant stats to provide!ÂÂ
In 9 innings of the #VIVOIPL, KKR pacers have taken 33 wickets at a better strike rate than any other team - 16.67 #AmiKKR #KKRvGL #KKRStats
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 8, 2016
19:05 hrs IST: A warm welcome to our live coverage of 38th match of Indian Premier League season 9. Kolkata Knight Riders take on Gujarat Lions at Eden Gardens tonight.ÂÂ
© BCCI
During the first half of the 2016 IPL, Suresh Raina was having a dream time as captain of the Gujarat Lions. An intimidating top-order, a flexible bowling line-up and a magnificent bunch of all-rounders. However, with three consecutive losses, things are not rosy for Suresh Raina and his team.
Problems In Bowling and Batting For Gujarat Lions
Dwayne Bravo has rued the lack of adaptability in the team after their loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad. "We cannot keep playing as though we are trying to get 180-190. It's not going to be possible. Every condition is different and if we don't adjust as batters quickly, we are going to find ourselves in this position again when it is challenging for batters," Bravo stated.
With Gujarat Lions showing signs of vulnerability, Raina and his team have a massive task ahead of their clash against table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders, who have won their last two games and are closing on sealing their spot in the knock-outs.
© BCCI
Kolkata Knight Riders - Balance in Bowling and Batting
Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa have been in fine form at the top of the order. Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell have been in destructive form in the lower-middle order. With the bowling covering all bases in the pace and spin department, there are few worries for Gautam Gambhir and his team. However, KKR will be wise to heed the words of Jacques Kallis, who has warned them against complacency.
"I suppose some of the negatives might be we were pretty similar to this last year, then sort of relaxed towards the end," Kallis mentioned.