Redbacks see off KKR
The Mexican wave at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium wasn’t enough to pump up the Kolkata Knight Riders as they drew a blank against the South Australian Redbacks. The Champions League Twenty20 Pool B clash saw the Redbacks register a 19-run over the Knights here on Tuesday night.
Looking to overhaul 189, the Knights lost Manvinder Bisla (13), Shakib Al Hasan (13) and skipper Gautam Gambhir (9) to be reduced to 46 for 3. Jacques Kallis (20) and Manoj Tiwary added 35 off 4.1 overs before the former was caught and bowled by Daniel Harris. Yusuf Pathan (5) and Tiwary (40) too were pouched by the Redbacks to be struggling at 102 for 5. Ryan ten Doeschate (32) and Rajat Bhatia (21) played handy knocks towards the end, but it was too little too late.
Earlier, Redbacks rode on top knocks from Callum Ferguson (70 n.o.) and Daniel Christian (42) to score 188 for 5. The Ferguson-Christian combine added 84 off 7.2 for the fourth wicket to change the course of the clash. The pair joined hands when the scoreboard read 77 for 3, and tore the Knights’ bowling apart.
The only blemish in Ferguson’s innings came when on 18 he was dropped by Jacques Kallis. The 15th over of the innings saw Redbacks spew venom, hitting Yusuf Pathan for 20 that set them for a final flourish. Despite seeing the back of Christian, Redbacks managed to score 74 off the last five.
The Michael Klinger-led side started cautiously before Daniel Harris hit Iqbal Abdulla for 12 runs in the fourth over. Birthday boy L. Balaji, who dropped Harris on 10, got rid of the Redbacks opener for 26. A risky single costed Klinger (20) his wicket which left the Redbacks at 51 for 2. The dismissal of Borgas (14) in the 11th over brought Daniel Christian to the crease, and the tide shifted in the favour of the Redbacks.
