Scores unbeaten 53-ball 86 to guide Knight Riders to thrilling three-wicket win

KOLKATA: Knight Riders skipper Sourav Ganguly led from the front scoring an unbeaten 53-ball 86 to guide the home side to a thrilling three wicket win.

Replying to the Kings XI's competitive score of 174 for 6, the Knight Riders reached their winning target of 175 losing seven wickets in 19.4 overs in a nail-biting finish before a crowd of 30,000 at the Eden Gardens.

Needing 15 off the last over, Ganguly took charge carving Irfan Pathan for two sixes. He swung the first ball of the last over deep over midwicket. He then miscued one for a couple for two in the leg-side. Pathan, then bowled, a slower ball attempting to deceive Ganguly. But the southpaw saw it early and hit it straight over Pathan's head for six.

Stiff target

Chasing a stiff target of 175 set by the Kings XI Punjab team, Knight Riders appeared to be struggling before they unearthed an unlikely batting hero - Umar Gul.

Gul joined Ganguly when KKR were struggling at 6-106 in the 16th over. The Pakistani speedster swung his bat with gay abandon to score 24 off 11 overs with one four and three sixes. It was just the push that KKR needed as Gul and Ganguly added 49 in three overs.

Brisk start

KKR got off to a brisk start with Ganguly and Salman Butt putting on 45 in 5.2 overs. But then three quick wickets of Butt, Debabrata Das (first ball) and David Hussey meant that they were struggling. Kings XI kept chipping away at the wickets and when Aussie James Hopes had Aakash Chopra caught behind off Kumar Sangakkara with the score at 106, KKR hopes seemed over. That’s when Gul joined Ganguly to spark the turnaround.

Brief scores: Kings XI Punjab 174-6 in 20 overs (S Marsh 40, K Sangakkara 64; U Gul 4-23) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 175-7 off 19.4 overs (S Ganguly 86 no) by three wickets.