Kolkata Knight Riders played like a champion while bowling and batting and became the third team to enter the Play offs of IPL 2014, while Royal Challengers Bangalore were knocked out joining DD with a game spare for both. First, Uthappa and Shakib brought devastation and then Narine sent the dangerous trio back to the dug out. Uthappa, in the process, snatched the Orange Cap from Maxwell, while Narine equaled 20 wicket haul of Bhuvneswar Kumar, who lost the Purple Cap after going wicketless in his 13th match, against CSK.
KKR Score 195/4
Sent to bat first at home, captain Gambhir had to return in the first over to dug out as Starc got him caught behind, luckily not a duck this time as he scored 4 runs. Manish Pandey (13 runs) also joined him in the 4th over. Yusuf Pathan’s 13-ball 22 runs increased the run rate, but he ran himself out in the 7th over as KKR appeared in trouble with score reading 56/3 in 7 overs. But opener Uthappa got able support from Shakib (38-balll 60 runs) and both added 121 runs in 11.4 overs. Uthappa went on to grab Orange Cap from Maxwell with unbeaten 51-ball 83 runs as he helped KKR reach 195/4.
RCBs most economical bowler Chahal completed his half-century as he went wicketless to give 50 runs in his quota of overs. Yuvraj gave 21 runs in 2 overs. Dinda (1/38), Abu Ahmed (1/33) and Starc (1/32) were the other sufferers of the KKR onslaught.
RCB Score 165/5, Knocked Out of Edition
RCB also started on a disappointing note as Chris Gayle (6 runs) was sent back by Umesh Yadav in 2nd over. Takawale (36-ball 45 runs) and Kohli (31-ball 38 runs) tried to fight with 85 runs partnership. But Required Run Rate kept increasing. Narine dismissed both of them in the 13th over of the innings. Yuvraj (12-ball 22 runs) and AB de Villiers (13 runs in 13 balls) stayed for 3.2 overs, but Narine returned to send both of them back too in same over. Finally Rana and Starc helped them reach 165/5 as KKR won easily.
Uthapppa received his third Player of the Match award of the season, and also the Orange Cup. He has now scored 572 runs in 13 matches.
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