KOLKATA: Even in the mad scramble of T20, a KKR-CSK match at Eden Gardens always has its own subplots, distinguished by their nature of contest and characters.
Gallery: How Knights Topped Super Kings
Under the floodlit amphitheatre on Monday, the Kolkata Knight Riders won most of them for a fifth victory on the trot, which took them within sniffing distance of a playoff berth. The ease of the chase was remarkable and somewhat clouded Chennai Super Kings’ chances of securing the top spot in the league table.
Amid all the characters and what they had to offer, Robin Uthappa stole the show before Shakib Al Hasan put the finishing touches to what turned out to be a comfortable win. It was a brilliant performance, which gave Chennai no chance after they had let Uthappa off the hook in the first over. Having creamed Ben Hilfenhaus’ first ball of the innings through the covers, he edged the fourth to slip, where Ravichandran Aswhn grassed a sitter. Uthappa didn’t look back, timing the ball beautifully for a 39-ball 67 which contained 10 sparkling fours and a six.
The Knight Riders got contributions from almost everyone and Gautam Gambhir helped Uthappa bring up yet another half-century stand. The runs came at a good pace too, which ensured there was no need to go for risks after the Power Play overs which produced 52 runs. The skipper threw away a good start, but Uthappa was not letting this chance go. Driving majestically with the full the face of the bat and clipping delicately off his pads, he brought up his fourth half-century of the season. Shakib kept the flag flying after his departure and remained unbeaten on a 21-ball 46 with six fours and two sixes.
In the first half, Gambhir used his assortment of spinners and quicks to good effect. Replacing Morne Morkel in the side and playing his first IPL match, Pat Cummins sent back Dwayne Smith with a cracker of a ball in the second over. Delivered from wide of the crease, it angled in at good pace before straightening. Smith had no clue as the ball rattled his off stump. Chennai withstood the blow and counterattacked through Brendon McCullum, who opened his shoulders and muscled Cummins for two sixes and a four in the fourth over. Suresh Raina welcomed Sunil Narine to the crease with a six first ball.
Despite those sixes, Chennai couldn’t force the pace. The bowlers didn’t gift loose balls and there was no width or short ones. McCullum perished for a 24-ball 28 when he tried to break free, Narine having his man caught off a skier. The slowness of the pitch aided Gambhir’s bowlers, who functioned well as a unit. Raina broke the shackles and hit Piyush Chawla for two sixes and a four in the 14th over which produced 19 runs. He completed his 50 off 43 balls. At 120 for two after 16, things were evenly balanced. A well-set Raina was going to be the key for a big total, but he fell in the 18th over for a 52-ball 65. MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja got a few big shots but in the end, those were not enough.