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Knight Riders romp to victory

Angelo Mathews picked up four wickets before half-centuries from Brad Hodge and Manoj Tiwary propelled the Kolkata Knight Riders to a convincing seven-wicket win over the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their IPL match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.

Seamer Mathews finished with figures of four for 19 off four overs as Bangalore were restricted to 135 for seven before Hodge and Tiwary combined for a first-wicket stand of 101 as Kolkata romped to 136 for three with four balls of their innings remaining.

The result continued Kolkata’s good start to the competition after they downed the Deccan Chargers in their opening match.

The 24-year-old Tiwary, who had to receive treatment for an injured ankle in the fourth over, raced to his fifty off just 28 deliveries but he was out next ball when he was caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe for an even 50 that included six fours and two sixes.

Hodge was a touch more circumspect, although no less effective, as he strode to his half-century off 44 balls.

Like Tiwary, Hodge was undone by Van der Merwe the ball after reaching the landmark when the right-handed batsman was caught at long-on for 50 after striking seven fours.

Sourav Ganguly then took his team to the brink of victory with a quick 23 off 22 balls before he was caught at deep midwicket off the bowling of seamer Praveen Kumar with just three runs needed for the win.

Van der Merwe ended with figures of two for 27 while fellow South African Dale Steyn had a match to forget as the speedster conceded 38 runs from his four overs.

Earlier, Jacques Kallis, who carried his bat to score 65 off 52 deliveries, was the one Bangalore batsman to offer much resistance for the visitors.

Mathews received admirable support from left-arm spinner Murali Kartik who chipped in with two for 22.

After being asked to bat Bangalore were soon in trouble as they slumped to 35 for four.

Shreevats Goswami (8) fell to swing bowler Charl Langeveldt when the batsman was caught at third man while Manish Pandey (0) was bowled by Mathews.

Kartik then had Virat Kohli (2) caught at deep midwicket before he bowled Eoin Morgan (10).

Kallis and Rahul Dravid (21) stopped the rot for a time with a fifth-wicket stand of 38 before Dravid became Mathews’ second victim when the batsman dragged a wide delivery back onto his stumps.

Robin Uthappa (20) and Kallis put on 37 runs for the sixth wicket but Mathews ended the burgeoning partnership when he had Uthappa caught behind by keeper Wriddhiman Saha.

Sri Lankan Mathews then accounted for Van der Merwe (1) caught at short third man.

Despite the wickets falling around him Kallis kept his head to score 20 runs off the last eight ball that he faced as he brought up his fifty IPL half-century off 47 deliveries.

In all Kallis struck seven fours and six during his innings.

Teams:

Kolkata Knight Riders:
SC Ganguly (capt), BJ Hodge, CA Pujara, MK Tiwary, OA Shah, RS Gavaskar, AD Mathews, WP Saha (wk), M Kartik, CK Langeveldt, I Sharma

Royal Challengers Bangalore:
JH Kallis, MK Pandey, RV Uthappa, V Kohli, R Dravid, SP Goswami (wk), EJG Morgan, RE van der Merwe, P Kumar, A Kumble 9capt), DW Steyn

 
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