IPL SRH vs KKR: Gambhir steers Kolkata to easy win

Gautam Gambhir fired an unbeaten 90 off 60 deliveries as Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by a comfortable eight wickets in the IPL 8 match in Hyderabad.

Needing 143 to win, skipper Gambhir and Robin Uthappa put on a strong 92 runs in 13 overs for the opening wicket to put Kolkata Knight Riders early on. Uthappa departed after hammering a 34-ball 38 including three boundaries and a six. 

Gambhir carried on without any trouble scoring 13 boundaries and a six to guide his team to victory with 10 balls to spare.

Earlier, Eoin Morgan scored a fine 51 while Naman Ohja hit 37 to guide Sunrisers Hyderabad to 142 for seven in 20 overs.

SRH INNINGS

Sunrisers Hyderabad recovered from a poor start to make 142-7 thanks to a half century from Eoin Morgan (51) and a belligerent 37 from Deepak Hooda during a fifth wicket stand of 67.

Yadav claimed three for 28 and Morkel two for 35.

Morgan slogs sweeps Morkel over midwicket for a six to reach his half century in style. SRH 123-5, 18 overs.

A sensational catch by Russell-Chawla on the boundary flicking back after leaping over the ropes accounts for Ojha. SRH 117-5, 17.3 overs

Naman Ojha c Chawla b Morkel 37 (28b 2x4 2x6)

Russell strikes as Hooda holes out in the deep. SrH 50-4, 9.4 overs.

Deepak Hooda c Umesh Yadav b Russell 6 (11b)

Yadav strikes again trapping Henriques leg before. SRH 36-3, 6 overs.

Moises Henriques lbw b Umesh Yadav 6 (9b 1x4)

Double blow for Sunrisers as Warner falls to a slower ball from Yadav. SRH 23-2, 3.3 overs.

David Warner c S Yadav b U Yadav 13 (12b 2x4)

Uthappa takes a superb catch as Dhawan perishes failing to negotiate the extra bounce of Morkel to edge behind. SRH 18-1, 2.4 overs.

Shikhar Dhawan c Uthappa b Morkel 6 (7b 1x4)

Dhawan gets into his stride pushing Morkel through mid-off for a boundary.

Warner hits the first boundary of the match slapping Morkel through the covers. SRH 9-0, 1 over.

Warner is recalled after being caught off a no-ball from Morkel.

The big news is that West Indian spinner Sunil Narine is back for Kolkata for whom Morne Morkel and Shakib Al Hasan are also playing.

For Hyderabad, Sran replaces the injured Nehra.

Sunrisers Hyderabad won the toss and opt bat against Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 8 of IPL9 at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad, on Saturday.

In their opening fixture of the season, SRH were blown away by Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

The Kolkata Knight Riders started their season with a thumping victory against the Delhi Daredevils, after which they stumbled in their match against the defending champions Mumbai Indians.

Kolkata Knight Riders have a edge, courtesy their 4-2 win-loss record against the Sunrisers.

Last season, both teams won their respective home fixtures.

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