The match between KKR and DC was the opportunity for both the teams, who lost their opening match, to open their accounts. KKR, historically superior to DC, continued their supremacy and registered 5th IPL win over DC in 7 matches.
KKR Reached a Competitive Total
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the opening partnership of Kallis and Bisla gave KKR a half-century before they lost the first wicket. KKR completed 50 runs in 8th over. Amit Mishra struck twice later, but Gambhir and middle order comprising Manoj Tiwary and Yusuf Pathan hit 113 runs in next 12 overs taking KKR to 163/4.
Steyn and co showed why DC attack is toothless. Their best bowling came from the spin duo of Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha.
DC Never Up in The Chase
With the openers gone in first 2 overs, the chase became tougher. Yet Chipli with 48 runs on 40 balls and later Christian with 13-ball 25 run upped the momentum, but wickets kept falling. Ultimately good hitting by lower middle order earned them a respecatble defeat of 9 runs. Sangakkara failed again with bat and DC bit the dust for 2nd consecutive match in a row.
Match Turner
Gambhir, Manoj Tiwary and Yusuf Pathan countered the charging bulls led by Steyn so well, that Sangakkara was at loss to think of ways to control them.
Rajat Bhatia and Iqbal Abdulla kept striking, sharing 5 wickets between them to slow the pacing charger batsmen.
Learnings for Both Teams
DC should check their playing XI and ponder everyone’s role. Right now, it appears a two men army – Sangakkara and Steyn, and unfortunately both are underperforming under pressure.
Gambhir is underutilising himself and players of the calibre of Ryan ten Doeschate, who can bowl also, and Morgan. Chipli is staying on the crease, but with Kallis already there who can stay, rotate strike and hold innings from one end, KKR needs batsmen who can speed up the runs. Gambhir should open the innings, and Morgan and Doeschate should be promoted. Manoj Tiwary is connecting good, yet both these players may help in pacing up faster. Also he should use Ryan’s bowling for full quota. Against better teams he may need more than 180 runs on board and experience of Ryan’s bowling while bowling.
Kallis – The Key Performer
The oldie has still lot of runs left on his sleeves. Scoring a very valuable half-century his fielding was a lesson for youngsters, taking four match winning catches, one of which was adjudged as the best catch of the match. He did not bowl today, but his fielding compensated more than enough for his bowling.
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