KKR, RCB look to sort top order batting woes ahead of IPL 2024 face-off
The KKR side boasts of a strong bowling unit, at least on paper, and such under-par efforts with the bat could prove costly to RCB’s chances.
KKR registered a thumping 10-wicket victory over Gujarat Lions in the third match of the IPL 2017.
The opening pair of Gautam Gambhir (76*) and Chris Lynn (93*) led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a thumping 10-wicket victory over Gujarat Lions in the third match of the IPL 2017 at the SCA Stadium, Rajkot on Friday.
Gambhir and Lynn gave KKR a blazing start as they single-handedly put a 184-run partnership stand to chase the target.
Gambhir struck 12 boundaries and concluded his 48-ball knock at an impressive strike rate of 158.33.
Advertisement
However, it was Australian batsman Lynn who intensified the action, smashing eight sixes and six boundaries.
Concluding at unbeaten 93 with a glorious strike rate of 226.82, the 26-year-old was just seven runs short of his maiden IPL century
With this, Kolkata have avenged their past two defeats that they suffered to Gujarat in the last season of the IPL.
The spectators at Rajkot witnessed a battle of skippers on Friday as before the KKR captain's heroics, Suresh Raina shone for the Gujarat side. He scored an exemplary knock of 68 runs (not out) to lift GL to a competitive total of 183 runs for the loss of four wickets.
Raina's knock was measured as it came off 51 balls and well-decorated by seven boundaries.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik supported the GL captain and scored causative 47 runs off 25 balls.
With a remarkable strike rate of 188, Karthik lifted the home crowd off their feet, slamming two sixes and four boundaries.
For the fourth-wicket, Raina and Karthik put an 87-run partnership stand that laid a strong foundation for the last year table-toppers.
Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav led the bowling attack for KKR as he claimed two big wickets in shape of Brendon McCullum (35) and Aaron Finch (15).
Pacer Trent Boult took the scalp of Karthik, while spinner Piyush Chawla dismissed GL opener Jason Roy (14) to join the bowling assault.
Click here for more stories related to IPL 2017
Advertisement