Kolkata Knight Riders 4-150(Manvinder Bisla 50*, Eoin Morgan 42, Azhar Mahmood 2-35) beat Kings XI Punjab 6-149 (Manan Vohra 31, Gurkeerat Singh 28*, Jacques Kallis 2-14) by six wickets.
A scintillating fourth wicket partnership of 72 runs between Manvinder Bisla and Eoin Morgan led Kolkata Knight Riders to a comfortable win vs. Kings XI Punjab.
Kings XI Punjab scored 149 runs with four wickets remaining at the end of the allotted 20th over and Kolkata Knight Riders achieved the target by hammering 150 runs for the loss of just four wickets in 18.2 overs.
Jacques Kallis (Kolkata Knight Riders) was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his all round performance in the game.
The 35th match of the Indian Premier League was played on Friday, April 26, 2013, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Earlier, Adam Gilchrist, the captain of Kings XI Punjab, won the toss and as usual opened the innings along with Mandeep Singh. They scored five runs in the first two overs as the latter got 5 fours followed by 3 from the willow of Gilchrist in the next four overs. Mandeep Singh became the first victim at 45 at his personal score of 25 as Manan Vohra came in the center. The score was taken to 67 in 9.3 overs when Adam Gilchrist was caught by Eoin Morgan at deep mid-wicket off Rajat Bhatia for 27 from even balls with 4 fours. David Hussey walked in next and tried to raise the run rate with Vohra who was gone for 31 on the fifth ball of the 13th over after hitting 1 six and 1 four.
The Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers kept on claiming the wickets at regular intervals and Gurkeerat Singh was the only batsman who demonstrated a fighting knock. He remained unbeaten for 28 off 15 deliveries with 2 high sixes and even fours as Kings XI Punjab reached 149 after losing six wickets in 20 overs.
Jacques Kallis was the prime bowler with two wickets whereas Lakshmipathy Balaji , Sarabjit Lada and Rajat Bhatia shared one wicket each.
Manvinder Bisla and his skipper, Gautam Gambhir, started the chase as the latter hit 2 fours in the opening over. Azhar Mahmood brought his team in front by grabbing two wickets in his very first over. Gautam Gambhir was clean bowled on the second ball of the 2nd over and Yusuf Pathan was gone on the very next ball without opening his account. Jacques Kallis took guards next and opened up with a four and added 12 runs with Bisla with 1 six and 1 four in the fourth over. Bisla dispatched his second six in the next over whereas Kallis gathered 4 fours in the following overs. They rushed to 76 in 10.4 overs as Jacques Kallis was caught behind by Gilchrist off Harmeet Singh for 37 from 33 balls with 6 fours.
Eoin Morgan associated with Bisla and the run rate was picked up by the duo as they accumulated 25 runs in two overs with 1 six and 2 fours. The hundred of the innings was posted on board in the 13th over as Morgan picked up 1 six and 2 fours in the next two overs. The home side required just 23 runs to grasp the game in 24 balls as the two batsmen carried on with their onslaught. Manvinder Bisla smashed his fifty in the 18th over as Morgan kept on toying with the visiting bowlers. Eoin Morgan punished Azhar Mahmood for 2 back to back sixes but was caught by Gurkeerat Singh on the last ball of the 18th over for 42 off just 25 deliveries with 4 hefty sixes and 3 fours. Manvinder Bisla secured his end with 50 off 43 with 3 big sixes and even fours as the home team thrashed 150 with six wickets in hand and 10 balls to spare.
Kolkata Knight Riders clinched the encounter with a wide margin of six wickets and added two points to their table.
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