HYDERABAD: Suryakumar Yadav, with an unbeaten 19-ball 43 (1x4, 4x6), propelled Kolkata Knight Riders to a three-wicket win over Perth Scorchers in a Group A match of the Champions League T20 at RGIS here on Wednesday.
After the experienced Sunil Narine (4 for 31) and chinaman Kuldeep Yadav (3 for 24) had restricted Perth Scorchers to a modest 151 for 7, KKR struggled before Suryakumar’s heroics. His struck two sixes at the start and two more in the 19th to steal the match from the Australian side. It gave KKR their 12th successive win, stretching back to their triumphant IPL 7, and a spot in the semifinals.
Earlier, Narine, who according to Wasim Akram is the best T20 bowler, wrecked havoc to return with impressive figures. But his understudy, 19-year-old Kuldeep, did a thoroughly respectable job to be adjudged man of the match.
Kuldeep has been a revelation in the tournament. Hit for ten runs in his first over, he provided the opening breakthrough when he had Craig Simmons stumped. Changing ends, he removed the dangerous Mitchell Marsh, who was stumped with a ball that turned away. Big-hitting all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile was his third scalp.
It was his effective bowling that derailed Scorchers, who, after electing to bat first, had gotten off to a searing start. Skipper Adam Voges gave them the impetus and stability and remained unbeaten on 71 off 52 balls.
But he was initially scratchy and was lucky to survive as Jacques Kallis spilled a return catch. Thereafter, Voges batted steadily even as wickets fell at the other end. He completed his 50 off 38 balls, which helped Scorchers post a fighting total.
The total seemed adequate for the Scorchers as KKR’s top order imploded. Skipper Gautam Gambhir (2) and Kallis (4) fell cheaply before Robin Uthappa (23) and Manish Pandey (24)stabilised them. They were again jolted when Uthappa, Pandey and Ryan ten Doeschate (21) all perished in quick succession, leaving them reeling at 87 for 5. Though he did not pick any wicket, chinaman Brad Hogg was their most influential bowler, conceding only 19 runs. But the struggling Yusuf Pathan and Suryakumar restored their faith with a timely partnership of 38. The match continued to ebb and flow, as KKR lost Pathan at a crucial juncture.
They needed 24 off two overs, but Suryakumar’s brace of sixes in the 19th over brought the asking rate down. Needing five from the last over, they lost Russell first ball, but Piyush Chawla sealed the win with a lofted drive over extra-cover.