Twitter Reactions: Gujarat Lions breach the Kolkata Knight Riders' fortress at the Eden Gardens
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the Gujarat Lions victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
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It was a battle of consistency against inconsistency, as recent table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders took on a foggy Gujarat Lions side at the iconic Eden Gardens stadium. The Knights were looking stronger, as Shakib made his way into the side. But when Suresh Raina takes the field, you can never count him entirely out. With the Lions reeling at the bottom of the table, the team was in serious need of a win, and it was that man Suresh Raina who ensured that the Gujarat Lions left Kolkata with two important points against their name.
Put into bat first by the Lions, the Kolkata Knight Riders once again unleashed a Narine onslaught. Gautam Gambhir found himself at the other end watching one of the world’s best spinners smash boundary after boundary. Narine was ruthless. The ball came on to the bat nicely on a relayed Eden Gardens surface, and Sunil Narine had no difficulty in dispatching it to the boundary.
KKR raced to 50 in just 4.1 overs, with Narine choosing to literally stand and deliver. No single, no twos; this man scored only off boundaries. His 17-ball 42 saw him smashing 9 boundaries and 1 six.
As Sunil Narine holed out, in came Robin Uthappa, who steered KKR at a healthy run rate. His 69 run partnership with Gautam Gambhir brought up the 100 for the Knight Riders. Gambhir fell, followed by Uthappa’s crucial dismissal as the scoreboard read 169-3 with just under 2 overs left. Despite a heavy middle order, the Kolkata Knight Riders could not cross the 200 run mark, which was very much on the cards given the blistering start they had. The Knight Riders ended the innings with 187 on the board and would think they might have fallen 20 runs short against a dangerous GL batting line-up.
Along with Brendon McCullum, the Gujarat Lions decided to open with Aaron Finch this time. Both batsmen dismissed the two overseas spinners who began proceedings for the home team. Sunil Narine got a taste of his own medicine as he went for 16 in his first over. Shakib leaked 15 in his second over as GL were cruising at 40-0 after 3 overs.
Enter Nathan Coulter-Nile. The Aussie pacer struck in his very first over as he sent Finch packing with a sharp bouncer. McCullum however, took Coulter-Nile on. Gujarat Lions raced to their fastest fifty ever in the IPL. Unfortunately for the fans who flocked the Eden Gardens, a slight drizzle and strong winds forced the players off the field. The good news for the Lions was that they were 21 ahead of the D/L par score at the end of 5 overs.
Nevertheless, rain couldn’t play spoilsport as the players were back on the field after a short while. The break worked for the home team as Brendon McCullum was dismissed soon after he took the Orange Cap. Karthik didn’t last long either, courtesy – a sharp catch by the KKR skipper himself. Suresh Raina was however stuck at the crease and maintained the Lions’ 9+ run rate.
However, GL found themselves in a spot of bother with 55 to get off the last 6 overs, with half their side back to the dugout. But it was the captain who stood up for his side. Raina kept the Lions afloat with a run rate constantly above the required run rate. His 84 came off just 46 balls. Although the GL skipper perished after a fantastic knock, victory was very much in sight. Jadeja and Faulkner did the rest to hand the Gujarat Lions a much-needed win.
Suresh Raina once again dethroned King Kohli to become the highest run-getter in IPL history. As for the Gujarat Lions, they breached the fortress at the Eden Gardens and bagged two valuable points.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the Gujarat Lions victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders:
Brilliant captains knock from @ImRaina very pleased for him and an important win from the @TheGujaratLions
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) April 21, 2017
#KKR have six bowlers, that means always one in reserve. It is allowing them to come back into this match
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 21, 2017
That's Not Rain At Eden Gardens. That's Tears Of #KKR Supporters. #KKRvGL #GLvsKKR #GLvKKR #KKRvsGL #IPL10
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) April 21, 2017
A Bangladeshi is opening the bowling for Kolkata Knight Riders. What else can you expect from Mamata di's Bengal.. ? #KKR
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) April 21, 2017
Brilliant from #Raina to get @TheGujaratLions the win. @KKRiders will be sore that they didn't make 200.. #KKRvGL #IPL10 ?
— mark butcher (@markbutcher72) April 21, 2017
Raina’s score of 84 is his highest for GL and the 45 balls he faced makes it his third longest innings for GL. #IPL
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 21, 2017
Suresh Raina (4267* in 149 inns) goes past Virat Kohli (4264 in 134 inns) once again, to become the leading run-getter in #IPL#KKRvGL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 21, 2017
Basil Thampi should be playing for India soon… #IPL #KKRvGL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 21, 2017
Raina is the leading run scorer v KKR, having scored 838 runs against them in 20 innings at an average of 42 runs per innings. #IPL
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 21, 2017
Highest Powerplay scores for GL:
72 v RCB, Rajkot, 2016
72 v RPS Pune, 2016
72 v KKR tonight *
71 v DD, Delhi, 2016#KKRvGL #IPL #IPL2017— Deepu Narayana (@deeputalks) April 21, 2017
And Sir Ravindra Jadeja Finishes Off With A Brilliant Four. Gujarat Lions Beat #KKR By 4 Wickets. ?Nice Cameo By Suresh Raina 84(46)#KKRvGL pic.twitter.com/junaopQXwj
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) April 21, 2017
The original superstar of the Indian Premiere League @ImRaina ,makes it look so easy.A wonderful knock& a much needed victory for us#KKRvGL
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 21, 2017
Suresh Raina's last three inngs vs KKR:
53(36)*
68(51)*
84(46)#KKRvGL #IPL #IPL2017— Deepu Narayana (@deeputalks) April 21, 2017
Gujarat Lions:
Batting 1st – One win, 8 losses (9 matches)
Batting 2nd – 10 wins, 3 losses (13 matches)#KKRvGL #IPL #IPL2017— Deepu Narayana (@deeputalks) April 21, 2017
Most runs vs an opposition in #IPL:
797 C Gayle v KXIP
707 S Raina v MI
706 V Kohli v CSK
701 S RAINA v KKR *#KKRvGL #IPL2017— Deepu Narayana (@deeputalks) April 21, 2017
What an innings @ImRaina ?? and what a start by @Bazmccullum and @AaronFinch5 … great win tonight !! Looking forward to #GL vs kXIP
— Mithun Manhas (@MithunManhas) April 21, 2017
Well done @ImRaina ??@robbieuthappa superb batting congratulations to @TheGujaratLions well bowled @imkuldeep18
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 21, 2017
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