IPL 7 T20 KXIP vs KKR: Kolkata stun Punjab by 9 wickets

Kolkata Knight Riders stunned table toppers Kings XI Punjab by nine wickets in Match 34 of IPL 7 at Cuttack on Sunday.

After restricting the strong KXIP batting line-up to 149-8, KKR romped to victory with two overs to spare making 150 for the loss of one wicket.

Uthappa made 46 off 28 balls with eight boundaries and six during a breezy 68-run opening stand in just seven overs with Gambhir.

Gambhir completed a solid half century to remain unbeaten on 63 off 45 balls with seven boundaries during an unbroken 82-run stand for the second wicket with Pandey (36).

KOLKATA INNINGS

Pandey hits the winning runs as Kolkata romped to a nine-wicket win over Punjab with two overs to spare.

Gambhir punches Patel over cover for a boundary to compllete his half century. KKR 131-1 in 16 overs.

Gambhir cuts Maxwell past backwar point for a boundary. KKR 102-1 in 12 overs.

Gambhir is back in his element cutting Awana past third man for a delightful boundary. KKR 79-1 in 9 overs.

KKR are 72 for 1 after 8 overs and are well on track to achieve victory.

Uthappa's wonderful knock comes to an end miscuing Awana to the midwicket fielder. KKR 68-1 in 7 overs.

Robin Uthappa c Patel b Awana 46 (28b 8x4 1x6)

Kolkata are off to a flier chasing 150 being 54 without loss at the end of the Powerplay overs with Uthappa dancing down the track and chipping Patel for his seventh boundary.

Gambhir also gets into the pulling Sandeep for a boundary. KKR 48-0 in 5 overs.

Johnson goes for 19 with Uthappa hammering a six and picking three consecutive boundaries. KKR 41-0 in 4 overs.

Uthappa is on song hitting the first six of the innings via a top edge over third man off Johnson.

Uthappa is dealing in boundaries slamming three off Sandeep flicking to square leg, a carpet drive past mid off followed by an exquisite drive past the bowler. KKR 22-0 in 3 overs.

Uthappa hits the first boundary of the innings pulling Johnson to the midwicket fence. KKR 10-0 in 2 overs.

PUNJAB INNINGS

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag made a timely return to form to lift Kings XI Punjab to 149-8 after being invited to bat first by Kolkata Knight Riders.

Sehwag top scored with 72 off 50 balls cracking 11 fours and a six.

KXIP innings failed to gather momentum with Maxwell and Miller falling cheaply.

Morkel did the damage the top finishing with two for 20.

Chawla was the pick of the bowlers claiming three for 19.

Patel is run out of the last ball attempting a second as Punjab finish on a below par score of 149-8.

Akshar Patel run out 1 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Johnson goes after a hitting a couple off lusty boundaries off Narine. KXIP 148-7 in 19.5 overs.

Mitchell Johnson st Uthappa b Narine 14 (12b 1x4 1x6)

Chawla finishes with excellent figures of 4-0-19-3 picking up the wicket of Dhawan who attempts to sweep only to find his stumps rattled. KXIP 127-6 in 17 overs.

Rishi Dhawan b Chawla 4 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Umesh strikes a deadly blow after being hit for a boundary knocking back the middle stump of Miller who leaves shaking his head in disbelief. KXIP 12-5 in 15.2 overs.

David Miller b Umesh Yadav 13 (14b 1x4 0x6)

Chawla strikes as Sehwag luck runs out being castled off an inside edge. KXIP 112-3 in 14.3 overs.

Virender Sehwag b Chawla 72 (50b 11x4 1x6)

Sehwag gets two consecutive boundaries off Morkel, the second off an outside edge. KXIP 112-3 in 14 overs.

Chawla strikes with his third delivery taking the big wicket of Maxwell who hits straigh down the throat of Morkel at square leg. KXIP 87-3 in 10.3 overs.

Glenn Maxwell c Morkel b Chawla 14 (14b 1x4 0x6)

Maxwell beats the fielder at long-on for his first boundary while Sehwag completes his first half century in 18 innings celebrating it with a sweetly struck boundary past third man off Kallis. KXIP 85-2 in 10 overs.

Sehwag gets a streaky boundary edging Narine to the third man fence. KXIP 73-2 in 9 overs.

Sehwag hits the first six of the match smacking Kallis back over his head into the sightscreen. KXIP 62-2 in 8 overs.

Morkel strikes another deadly blow knocking back the middle stump of Saha. KXIP 48-2 in 5.1 overs.

Wriddhiman Saha b Morkel 15 (9b 3x4 0x6)

Saha cracks two consecutive boundaries off Umesh on both sides of the wicket. KXIP 48-1 in 5 overs.

Sehwag survives as Uthappa drops an outside edge which runs to the boundary. KXIP 35-1 in 4 overs.

Sehwag get another boundary flicking another poor delivery from Umesh to the fine leg fence. KXIP 30-1 in 3 overs.

Saha opens his account cracking Morkel through point for a boundary. KXIP 21-1 in 2 overs.

Morkel strikes as Mandeep slashes only to be caught behind. KXIP 17-1 in 1.3 overs.

Mandeep Singh c Uthappa b Morkel 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

It was an over to forget for Kallis who strays down the leg side and is punished for three boundaries in four balls. KXIP 17-0 in 1 over.

Sehwag hits the first ball of the match from Kallis through the covers.

Sehwag and Mandeep come out to take strikes for KXIP while Kallis has the new ball.

Kolkata have won the toss and opted to bowl first.

PLAYING XI

Punjab: Mandeep Singh, Virender Sehwag, Wriddhiman Saha, Glenn Maxwell, George Bailey, David Miller, Akshar Patel, Mitchell Johnson, Rishi Dhawan, Parvinder Awana, Sandeep Sharma

Kolkata: Piyush Chawla, Gautam Gambhir, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Sunil Narine, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Ryan ten Doeschate, Robin Uthappa, S Yadav, U Yadav

Table leaders Kings XI Punjab clash with the Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 34 of IPL 7 at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack on Sunday.

KXIP have have steamrolled every force that’s stood up against them apart from a solitary defeat to Mumbai Indians.

They won convincingly against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru in their last outing.

KKR come into this contest on the back of an impressive eight-wicket win over the Delhi Daredevils after losing four matches on the trot.

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