IPL 2014 seventh season Gambhir 3rd successive fifty’s anchored Kolkata Knight Riders chase and steered them to a 9-wicket win over this IPL-toppers Kings XI Punjab. The Knight Riders bowlers had pinned Kings XI down to 149 - the second time in the tournament they be kept to less than 150 - despite a swift 72 from Virender Sehwag.
The opening pair of Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir - with 2 century stands in their last few matches - set the platform for the chase, racing to 68 in just 7 overs.
Coming into this game, Kolkata Knight Riders were the most economical team in the death overs in the IPL, giving away just 8.30 runs an over. In the UAE leg, they were also the team that managed to stifle Kings XI Punjab successfully.
That control with the ball, particularly in the latter half of the innings, set up the match for the side. At 10 overs, Kings XI Punjab were 85 for 2, but they made only 64 for 6 in the next 10 overs.
Chawla struck immediately with the big wicket of Glenn Maxwell, and then got rid of Virender Sehwag and Rishi Dhawan in the 15th and 17th overs.
He got to 50 off 35 balls, but like most Virender Sehwag innings, the opposition also had their share of chances. He was dropped in the 2nd over and a few shots fell out of reach of the fielders. Luckily for the Kolkata Knight Riders, those mistakes weren't too costly in the end.
Score Details
Kings XI Punjab-149/8(20)
Kolkata Knight Riders-150/1(18)
Player of the match
Gambhir
