BANGALORE, India, CMC – Sunil Narine’s Kolkata Knight Riders inched closer to the final of the Indian Premier League when they beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets under Duckworth/Lewis in a rain-ravaged affair here yesterday.
Playing at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the West Indies off-spinner was at his most frugal even though finishing wicket-less, sending down four overs which cost a mere 20 runs as Sunrisers were held to a paltry 128 for seven off their 20 overs.
Australian seamer Nathan Coulter-Nile was the leading bowler with three for 20 from his four overs.
His countryman David Warner top-scored with 37 at the top of the order but Sunrisers simply failed to get their innings off the ground.
England and Barbados all-rounder Chris Jordan got a one-ball ‘duck’ batting at number seven.
Rain during the interval almost saw the game washed out but when it ceased, KKR were given a fairly straightforward target of 48 off six overs.
They were slumping at 12 for three in the second over, however, before captain Gautam Gambhir arrived to smash two fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 32 off 19 balls, to see them over the line.
Jordan’s one over of pace cost nine runs and earned him one wicket.
KKR will now face Kieron Pollard’s Mumbai Indians in the final playoff game on Friday, to determine who will face Rising Pune Supergiant in Sunday’s final.
