Gautam Gambhir scored an unbeaten 66 while Jacques Kallis remained not-out on 30 as clinical Kolkata Knight Riders thrashed Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets in an Indian Premier League match at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Wednesday. After a disciplined bowling performance, Kolkata first restricted hapless Punjab to just 124 for 7 and then skipper Gambhir led from the front to make sure Kolkata reached the target with 3.3 overs to spare.
Earlier put into bowl, Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers put on a disciplined effort to restrict Kings XI Punjab for a modest score 127 for 7. Having won the toss and elected to bat, the Punjab outfit lost Paul Valthaty in the third over, as Brett Lee made early inroads for Kolkata. Shaun Marsh (33) then joined Adam Gilchrist in the middle, but the latter was forced off the
field with a hamstring injury when he was on 28.
After six overs, Punjab were well placed at 45 for 1 with Marsh and Mandeep Singh in the middle. After Gilchrist's exit Punjab struggled as Mandeep was the second man to full as he struggled for his 6 and gave away his wicket to Laxmipathy Balaji who had him caught at the third man. Soon he was joined by Marsh in the middle when Lee struck to get him caught behind. Though, Marsh's dismissal in the 14th over, however, turned out to be a little controversial.
Punjab then lost David Hussey (10) once again through a poor piece of running in the very next over to leave the team reeling at 87 for 4 in the 15th over. Kings XI failed to get a substantial partnership after that as Dimitri Mascarenhas (9) and Paras Dogra (6) departing in quick succession. Gilchirst returned in the 19th over to try and add some late runs, but by then the Kolkata bowlers had already done the damage. The skipper ended the innings on 40 not out, clubbing a six in the final over to help Punjab get to 125. The last man to fall was Piyush Chawla who was clean bowled off the last delivery of Punjab's innings.
For Kolkata, wily West Indian offspinner Sunil Narine (2 for 24) and Brett Lee (2 for 26) starred with the ball. Laxmipathy Balaji and Rajat Bhatia (1/23) also picked up a wicket each for the visitors.
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