IPL 10, Match 3 GL v KKR Review: Lynn, Gambhir decimate Gujarat Lions in a scintillating run chase

Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) completed a sensational victory in their opening encounter against the Gujarat Lions as the visitors strolled home by 10 wickets in a scintillating run chase at the Saurashtra Cricket Association ground in Rajkot. Courtesy a half-century by Suresh Raina and a heck of an innings by Dinesh Karthik the hosts posted a more than competitive 183 on the board after their allotted 20 overs.

Chasing a pretty challenging total, KKR openers Chris Lynn and Gautam Gambhir played some exceptional shots as KKR chased down the total with all 10 wickets in hand and with more than 5 overs to spare. They thoroughly outplayed the Gujarat Lions in all departments and the victory will surely send a strong message to the other teams that KKR wasn’t even bothered chasing that huge total.

On a pitch where teams batting first have won the last 5 encounters, Gautam Gambhir put the hosts in.  All the 4 openers available in the squad was in the playing XI but GL chose to go with Jason Roy and Brendon McCullum up the order. Playing in his very first match of IPL, Roy smashed Trent Boult for a couple of boundaries in the very first over to set the tone for the innings.

Roy struck Piyush Chawla for yet another boundary through the cover region followed by a McCullum boundary in the next over of Sunil Narine. Roy was dismissed by leggie in the 4th over and it wasn’t a good delivery under any stress of imagination. It was literally rubbish delivery which got the wicket. It was a rag long hop but Roy somehow managed to top edge straight to Yusuf Pathan stationed at the square leg region.

McCullum looked in sublime touch before he was bamboozled by chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav with a straighter one. It struck him plumb in front and there was no hesitation in the umpire’s mind to rule it in favour of the bowling team. Finch came out in the middle and struck some lusty blows before being dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav again.

Captain Raina looked woefully out of touch but somehow managed to score a half-century. It wasn’t one of the best knocks from the southpaw but given the pressure, he is in to deliver he will take it whatever comes his way. Meanwhile, Dinesh Karthik went hammers and tongs and took the KKR bowling line-up apart. In a sensational hitting display, Karthik scored a 24 balls 47 which propelled the hosts to score of over 180.

Karthik struck some marvellous shots during his brief innings which 6 fours and 2 hits over the fence. He will look to continue his good run throughout the tournament which might pave the way for a national recall in the Champions Trophy title defence. Raina struck some good blows during the fag end of the innings and finished off with a fierce square cut of Trent Boult.

The two-time champions began in a rollicking fashion with surprise opener Chris Lynn and Gautam Gambhir striking some exceptional shots to begin proceedings. It was a big call to open the innings with Lynn given the fact Robin Uthappa has been a terrific opener for KKR but Lynn made his opportunity count and made his way to a match-winning 93 of a mere 41 deliveries which contained 6 fours and 8 humongous sixes.

Chinaman bowler Shivil Kaushik was greeted to the middle with a Gautam Gambhir special where the southpaw smashed the bowler with an uncanny action for four boundaries in the 6th over. He looked in sublime touch which should be terrific signs for KKR. Smith reached his maiden IPL fifty in a mere 19 deliveries as he smashed Dwayne Smith for a hat-trick of sixes and a four in the 7th over.

They reached the 100 mark within the 8th over and looked in no worries what so ever. Gambhir reached his fifty in the 10th over by guiding a delivery from Shadabh Jakati towards the fine leg region. The captain was in no mood to rest home the advantage and smashed another 3 boundaries in the over of comeback man Manpreet Gony.

Lynn smashed 3 sixes in the 14th and the 15th over to finish off proceedings for Kolkata Knight Riders with 31 balls to spare. Rightly the man of the moment Chris Lynn was handed the Man of the Match award for his destructive innings. While he remained unbeaten on 93, Gambhir was not out on 76 of 48 deliveries.

Brief Scores

Gujarat Lions 183/4 in 20 overs (Suresh Raina 68*, Dinesh Karthik 47, Kuldeep Yadav 2/25)

Kolkata Knight Riders 184/0 in 14.5 overs (Chris Lynn 93*, Gautam Gambir 76*)

Kolkata Knight Riders won by 10 wickets (with 31 balls remaining)