Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders cantered to a 10-wicket win over Gujarat Lions in their opening match of the the Indian Premier League.
Chasing a challenging 184 for win, Chris Lynn (93 not out) and skipper Gautam Gambhir (76 not out) put on unbeaten 184 runs for the opening wicket to cruise to the victory.
Lynn consumed just 41 balls and struck six boundaries and as many as eight sixes during his fiery knock. Gambhir, on the other hand, was at his subtle best and scored his runs off 48 deliveries with the help of 12 fours. While Lynn was at his aggressive best, Gambhir played the second fiddle initially in the match-winning partnership.
Earlier, captain Suresh Raina led from the front with an unbeaten 68 to propel Gujarat Lions to a challenging 183 for four. Raina top-scored for the hosts and consumed 51 balls during his knock which was studded with seven boundaries. Besides Raina Dinesh Karthik (47) and Brendon McCullum played good hands for Gujarat Lions.
For KKR, chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets giving away 25 runs.
Man of the match: Chris Lynn for his blistering knock of 93 no.
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS; GUJARAT LIONS 183/4
Over 14.5 || Score 184/0 - Gautam Gambhir 76(48b); Chris Lynn 93(41b)
Dhawal Kulkarni on for his third over. And the pacer started with a wide. Such a sorry sight. Then a dropped catch from one of the greatest fielders, Brendon McCullum. The Kiwi legend palmed the ball over the deep boundary.
It was followed by a four, to square leg. Then another six, this time over long on. Another wide.
Two runs, then another two thanks to a fumble. 22 runs from five legal deliveries, and KKR won the match by 10 wickets, with 31 balls remaining.
Absolute hiding. This is the highest run chase without losing a wicket in Twenty20 cricket.
Over 14 || Score 162/0 - Gautam Gambhir 76(48b); Chris Lynn 73(36b)
Chris Lynn is still hungry. Hit the first ball of the over for a huge six over long-on. But good job from Shivil Kaushik to make it only a nine-run over.
Kaushik's figures: 4-0-40-0.
KKR need another 22 runs from 36 overs.
And another TIME-OUT taken.
Over 13 || Score 153/0 - Gautam Gambhir 75(46b); Chris Lynn 64(32b)
Another bowling change. Praveen Kumar returned for his second over, but no respite in sight for the Lions. For a change, there was no boundary, and only six runs.
KKR need 31 runs in 42 balls.
Over 12 || Score 147/0 - Gautam Gambhir 72(43b); Chris Lynn 62(29b)
Shadab Jakati on for his third over. Rubbing salt to Gujarat's wounds, the over started with five wides, sliding down leg, leaving wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik fuming.
16 runs from the over as Gautam Gambhir continue to find boundaries with ease. He hit the second legal ball for a four, playing inside out over extra cover.
KKR need another 37 runs from 48 balls.
Over 11 || Score 131/0 - Gautam Gambhir 64(39b); Chris Lynn 60(27b)
Manpreet Gony returned for his second over. Good start, a single to Gautam Gambhir, then a dot. But the KKR skipper was only cautious. Gambhit then went hyper hitting three fours off the third, fifth and sixth balls.
And thus came Kolkata's best opening stand.
15 runs from the over.
Over 10 || Score 116/0 - Gautam Gambhir 50(33b); Chris Lynn 60(27b)
Shadab Jakati on for his second over, and the left arm spinner has been impressive, so far. Only seven runs from the over – two 2s and three singles.
Meanwhile, Kolkata skipper Gautam Gambhir has reached his fifty, from 33 balls, with a single off the last ball of the over.
KKR still need another 68 runs from 60 balls.
Over 9 || Score 109/0 - Gautam Gambhir 46(29b); Chris Lynn 57(25b)
Shivil Koushik returned for his third over, and this time, he has done a good job. Only six runs from it. Best so far for the team.
The over started with a four, with Chris Lynn finding a thick edge. But the young spinner responded well by restricting the flow of run. Two more singles, off the second and fourth balls.
Over 8 || Score 103/0 - Gautam Gambhir 45(27b); Chris Lynn 52(21b)
Shadab Jakati on for the Lions. And it proved one good bowling change from Suresh Raina. Only seven runs from it, against the run of play. In the last two overs, Kolkata have scored 43 runs. Some relief.
But, Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn are on course to break some records. KKR's highest opening stand is 121, achieved in 2014 by Gambhir and Robin Uthappa against Rajasthan Royals.
And we have a Strategic Tim-Out in Rajkot.
Over 7 || Score 96/0 - Gautam Gambhir 40(23b); Chris Lynn 50(19b)
What an over. 23 runs from it, with Chris Lynn playing the punisher role. oh, poor Dwayne Smith.
Scoring sequence: 6,4,0,6,6,1.
With that single off the last ball, Lynn reached his fifty. He took just 19 balls. What a knock.
Over 6 || Score 73/0 - Gautam Gambhir 40(23b); Chris Lynn 27(13b)
Another big over, and KKR has recorded their highest power-play score in the IPL. 69 runs without losing a wicket.
20 runs from Shivil Kaushik's second over. The young spinner has been pummeled. Gautam Gambhir started with a four, over backward square leg, then four leg byes. A dot ball, then the KKR skipper hit three back-to-back fours. Massive over.
Over 5 || Score 53/0 - Gautam Gambhir 24(17b); Chris Lynn 27(13b)
Dhwal Kulkarni returned for his second over, and this time, he has managed to keep the KRR openers quiet, relatively.
Seven runs from the over, with a four. Gautam Gambhit lofted the fifth ball over mid-on fielder for a four. Good batting from the skipper.
Over 4 || Score 46/0 - Gautam Gambhir 18(12b); Chris Lynn 26(12b)
Another bowling change for the Lions. Shivil Kaushik on, and has leaked nine runs, which included two fours, off the first and last balls to Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn respectively.
KKR still need another 138 runs from 16 overs.
Over 3 || Score 37/0 - Gautam Gambhir 13(9b); Chris Lynn 22(9b)
Gujarat Lions skipper brought on Manpreet Gony, the right-arm medium pacer, into the attack. And like Dhawal Kulkarni, he also received a rude welcome from the Kolkata Knight Riders openers. 17 runs from it.
Gautam Gambhir hit the first ball for a four, straight down the ground. A single, and a wide followed. Then Chris Lynn hit another four, before lofting the fourth legal ball for a huge six over long-off. Some 95m, into the stands.
A dot for good for the bowler, than a wide. A dot to end the over.
Over 2 || Score 20/0 - Gautam Gambhir 8(7b); Chris Lynn 12(5b)
Dhawal Kulkarni, who is known as one of the best power-play bowlers in IPL, has been given a rough treatment. 20 runs from his first over.
Gautam Gambhir took a single off the first ball, the Chris Lynn hit the next ball for a six – over mid-wicket – then a single followed, before Gambhir hit a four – through mid-on.
A single to end the over. KKR need another 164 runs.
Over 1 || Score 7/0 - Gautam Gambhir 2(3b); Chris Lynn 5(3b)
Praveen Kumar started the proceedings with a swinging delivery to Gautam Gambhir, who managed to played it safe, for a single.
Two more singles off the third and fifth ball followed, then Chris Lynn hit the last ball for a four to make it a seven-run over.
Over 20 | Score 169/3 (Raina 68*, Smith 0*)
Boult to bowl the final over. A leg bye conceded off the first ball. Raina was looking to make room off the second ball, Boult followed hum and the left-hander could manage just a single. Boult next delivery was a length ball to Karthik, who stood deep in his crease and cleared covers for another boundary. Boult followed it with another length ball, Karthik finally connected with a reverse-sweep and cleared the fielder at fine leg for another boundary. Now, that is the shot of the evening! Superb timing from Karthik! He has been brilliant today. Karthik attempted another big shot off the penultimate delivery but hit it straight to Suryakumar Yadav at long-on. Smith is the new man in, but at the non-striker's end. Raina drove the last ball through covers for another boundary to end the innings in style.
KD Karthik c Yadav b Boult 47 (25b)
Over 19 | Score 169/3 (Raina 63*, Karthik 39*)
Woakes is back in attack. KKR need him to bowl good at the death. Raina fails to connect with the first ball which slightly moved away from him after pitching. Second ball was a wide delivery, Gambhir hit it towards point for a single, and as he had his eyes at the fielder, he collided with Woakes who was standing in the middle of the pitch. The Englishman fell on the pitch but no love lost as Raina apologised with a hug. Woakes bowled a length ball to Karthik, who hammered it over deep midwicket for a huge six! Ravi Shastri says that's the shot of the evening! Woakes fourth ball was wide and Karthik cut it over gully for another boundary. Superb hitting from the wicketkeeper batsman. Woakes then bowled a full-toss to Karthik, who could manage just a single off it. Woakes went wide again off the last ball, Raina cut it past the fielder at point for another boundary. 16 from the over!
Over 18 | Score 153/3 (Raina 58*, Karthik 28*)
Boult in his third over. Raina took a single off the first ball. Boult followed it with a wide yorker and Karthik couldn't make any contact with the bat. Third ball was a full toss from Boult, Karthik hit it towards midwicket for a single. Boult followed it with a wide ball down the leg side to Raina. Raina got a french cut off the next ball which rushed past fine leg for a boundary. Raina took a single off the next ball. Karthik ended the over with another boundary which came straight down the ground.
Over 17 | Score 141/3 (Raina 52*, Karthik 23*)
Chawla is back with his final over. Raina took a single off the first ball to reach his fifty off 41 balls. He becomes a different player in the IPL. Karthik took a single off the second ball. Raina pulled the third ball, a short delivery, towards deep square leg where Yusuf Pathan dropped another catch. KKR cannot afford to drop someone like Raina at this stage of the game. Two singles came off the fourth and the fifth ball while Karthik smashed the last ball for a six over deep midwicket.
Over 16 | Score 130/3 (Raina 49*, Karthik 15*)
Kuldeep into his final over. Raina took a single off the first ball. Karthik drilled the second ball past midwicket for another single. Raina came down the wicket off the third ball, Kuldeep varied his length and Raina hit it towards point for no run. Raina once again charged down the track off the fourth ball, hit it between deep midwicket and long-off for a couple of runs. A dot ball followed and Raina once again kept the strike with a single to move to 49.
Over 15 | Score 125/3 (Raina 45*, Karthik 14*)
Narine is back. Raina took a single off the first ball. Dinesh mistimed a revers-sweep off the second ball, just for a single though. Raina charged down the track off the third ball, Narine saw that and changed his length, just a single towards mid-off. Karthik played a powerful cut off the fourth ball, pitched wide, for a boundary past point. Karthik worked the fifth ball towards deep midwicket for a single. Raina played a lofted drive over covers for a single to keep the strike.
Over 14 | Score 116/3 (Raina 42*, Karthik 8*)
Chawla to bowl his third over. He started with a wide delivery but Raina failed to get any bat to the ball. Raina shimmied down the track off the second ball, hit it towards deep midwicket where Boult held on to a catch, but as his body fell behind the ropes, the threw it inside. Raina charged down the wicket off the third ball as well, hit it for a couple of runs straight down the ground. Raina charged down the wicket off the fourth ball as well, hit it in the air over covers for a single. Karthik hit the fifth ball past covers for a single. Raina took a single off the last ball to keep the strike. Seven from the over.
Over 13 | Score 109/3 (Raina 36*, Karthik 7*)
Narine to bowl his third over. His second ball was a length delivery to Karthik, who punched it through covers for a boundary. Narine bowled two dot balls to end the over. Seven runs from it.
Over 12 | Score 102/3 (Raina 34*, Karthik 2*)
Boult is back in attack. The Kiwi pacer tested Raina with a short ball, but the left-hander nicely pushed it past deep square leg for a boundary using Boult's pace. 100 up for the Lions. Seven runs from the over.
Over 11 | Score 95/3 (Raina 28*, Karthik 1*)
Yadav into his third over. Kuldeep pitched one full to Finch, who made room for himself, hit it high towards deep cover but Suryakumar Yadav took an excellent catch running towards his left to grab a superb catch. Dinesh Karthik is the next man in. He has had a good domestic season and it remains to be seen whether he can carry the same form in this IPL season.
AJ Finch c Yadav b Kuldeep Yadav 15 (8b)
Over 10 | Score 91/2 (Raina 25*, Finch 15*)
Yusuf Pathan is the next man in. He starts with a short of a length delivery and Finch tonked it over deep midwicket for a Six! Pathan followed it with a similar kind of delivery and Finch once again hammered it over deep midwicket for another Six! 15 from the over.
Over 9 | Score 76/2 (Raina 23*, Finch 2*)
Kuldeep Yadav to continue. He struck off the first ball as McCulllum was struck on the pads and the umpire had no hesitation whatsoever. Big breakthrough for KKR. Aaron Finch is the next man in. Four runs from the over. Some respite for KKR.
BB McCullum lbw b Kuldeep Yadav 35 (24b)
Over 8 | Score 72/1 (McCullum 35*, Raina 21*)
Woakes to continue. After conceding four runs off the first five balls, Woakes bowled one down the leg side and Raina flicked it easily past fine leg for another boundary. KKR are leaking plenty of runs here.
Over 7 | Score 64/1 (McCullum 34*, Raina 15*)
Kuldeep Yadav introduced immediately after the powerplay. After bowling four good balls, he pitched one short to Baz who hammmered it past midwicket for a boundary. McCulllum charged down the wicket off the last ball and pummeled it over long-off for the first six of the innings. The Lions are roaring in front of their home crowd.
Over 6 | Score 52/1 (McCullum 23*, Raina 14*)
Chris Woakes has been introduced into the attack. He started with a length ball, Raina hit it back to the bowler who got his right hand to it but the ball still went for a boundary. He bowled a short ball to Raina, who just timed it past fine leg for another boundary. Fifth ball was banged short, Raina went for the pull but mistimed it near long-on, Kuldeep Yadav tried his best running backwards, caught the ball initially but grassed it at the last moment.
Over 5 | Score 40/1 (McCullum 23*, Raina 2*)
Narine to continue. The West Indian offered width to McCullum, who hit it powerfully past deep cover for a boundary. Narine followed it with a short ball and the Kiwi batsman smashed it for a boundary past deep square leg.
Over 4 | Score 29/1 (McCullum 13*, Raina 1*)
Chawla was back in attack and he struck off the first ball as Roy mistimed a short ball towards square leg where Yusuf Pathan held on to an easy catch. Suresh Raina was the next man in. Chawla bowled a length ball to Baz, who hammered it over deep midwicket for a Six!
JJ Roy c Pathan b Chawla 14 (12b)
Over 3 | Score 22/0 (Roy 14*, McCullum 7*)
Sunil Narine was introduced as early as the third over. McCullum cut the second ball hard, Kuldeep Yadav dived from the gully region, but a misfield converted it into a boundary. Good comeback from the West Indian though, as he conceded just six runs in the over.
Over 2 | Score 16/0 (Roy 13*, McCullum 2*)
Gambhir introduced spin early in the innings. Roy reverse-swept Chawla's third ball past covers for a boundary. Eight from the over.
Over 1 | Score 8/0 (Roy 8*, McCullum 0*)
Trent Boult bowled the first over for KKR. Jason Roy, who has been in prolific form in limited overs lately, smashed him for two boundaries in the first over itself to get his team to a good start.
Playing XIs:
Gujarat Lions: Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Jason Roy, Suresh Raina (c), Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Manpreet Gony, Praveen Kumar, Shadab Jakati, Dhawal Kulkarni, S Kaushik
Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir (c), Robin Uthappa (wk), Manish Pandey, Chris Lynn, Pathan, Suryakumar Yadav, Chris Woakes, Piyush Chawla, Kuldep Yadav, Sunil Narine, Trent Boult
TOSS: Gautam Gambhir has won the toss and has decided to bowl first.
IPL 2017, third opening ceremony - As it happened:
06: 55 pm - Bollywood heartthrob Tiger Shroff is here to entertain the spectators with his mind-blowing moves.
06: 50 pm - Home captain Suresh Raina has given the momento to visiting captain Gautam Gambhir:
Play Hard, Play Fair - Spirit of Cricket at #IPL - @GautamGambhir and @ImRaina pic.twitter.com/j53wNdz29z
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 7, 2017
06: 49 pm - Gautam Gambhir, who has led his team to two IPL titles, is the next one to arrive amid loud cheers from the crowd.
06: 47 pm - The home crowd goes crazy as Suresh Raina arrives on a cart.
06: 40 pm - Singers Sachin-Jigar were the next ones to hit the stage.
06: 36 pm - Bhoomi Trivedi, who made a name for herself from singing reality show Indian Idol, starts off with the Udi Udi Jaaye track from the movie RamLeela.
06: 34 pm - The opening ceremony has started with a dandiya performance.
Missing two of the most prominent all-rounders in the form of Ravindra Jadeja – out of the first two matches with an injured finger – out of the first seven matches with hamstring injury – is a major blow for the Lions while Umesh Yadav is the only injury for the Knight Riders. (IPL 10, Match 2, RPS vs MI - As it happened | Report)
As far as KKR are concerned, they would be looking to put a strong foot forward in attempts of becoming the first team to win 3 IPL titles, presently sitting joint top with Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians (two titles each).
Gambhir will be missing last season's star-man Andre Russell with suspension, but will be hoping to get the Kiwi all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme firing form the word go. Major focus will be on the new signings, Chris Woakes and Trent Boult, who were the noteworthy purchases at the IPL Player Auction.
Here's everything you need to know about the third match of the season:-
Likely playing XIs
Gujarat Lions: Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith, Suresh Raina (c), Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik (wk), James Faulkner, Ishan Kishan, Praveen Kumar, Shadab Jakati, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shivil Kaushik
Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir (c), Robin Uthappa (wk), Manish Pandey, Chris Lynn, Chris Woakes, Yusuf Pathan, Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Sunil Narine, Ankit Rajpoot, Trent Boult
When and where to watch the match:
Date & Time: April 7 (Friday) at 20:00 IST
Venue: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
TV Listing: Sony Six, Sony Six HD, Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD and SET MAX.
Online Streaming: Sony LIV, Hotstar
