Mohali: The Kolkata Knight Riders lost the plot at crucial moments on Tuesday, thereby suffering a narrow four-run defeat against Kings XI Punjab, at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
For those who were rooting for the Knights, it was painful to watch how the defending champions frittered away the advantages on several occasions to allow the Adam Gilchrist-led side register their first home triumph in IPL-VI.
The Knights, on the other hand, remained winless in away matches, the Mohali defeat being their third loss, after failures in Jaipur and Bangalore.
In fact, nothing went right for the Knights on Tuesday, despite gallant performances from captain Gautam Gambhir (60 off 39 balls with eight fours) and off spinner Sunil Narine (hat-trick, with match figures of three for 33).
Chasing a challenging Punjab total of 157 for nine, the visitors lost their last seven wickets for 46 runs to manage only 153 for nine.
While former Pakistan international Azhar Mahmood emerged the hero for the Kings XI with three wickets, Praveen Kumar was the next successful bowler with a figure of two for 26. Praveen also bowled the crucial last over of the match.
The story could easily have been different had not the Knights faltered when the advantage was theirs. With off spinners Narine and Sachithra Senanayake bowling in tandem to have the Kings XI batsmen in a sea of trouble, it was almost criminal to allow the opponents cross the 150 mark.
Narine did strike a hat-trick, but his last over cost the Knights dear. In the 19th over of the Kings XI innings, which was Narine’s last, the West Indian gave away 23 runs. Man of the Match Manpreet Singh Gony, who blasted 42 off just 18 deliveries, alone slammed Narine for 17 runs. It included two sixes and one four.
To say Gony made the difference between the two teams would not be an exaggeration. After helping the Kings XI post a good total, he bowled with vigour and energy to give away only 18 runs in four overs and capture the decisive wicket of Gautam Gambhir.
Gony had impressed in the inaugural edition of the IPL, in 2008, and was even rewarded with a place in the India squad for the Asia Cup.
He used to represent the Chennai Super Kings then. But thereafter, Gony failed to continue the good work and was pushed back to oblivion. His Tuesday’s performance has again catapulted him back in the spotlight.
The loss of Gambhir in the 14th over was a telling blow for the Knights. After losing Manvinder Bisla (0) and Jacques Kallis (1) with only one run on the board, Gambhir and Eoin Morgan (47) almost took the match away from Kings XI with a 105-run partnership for the third wicket. Once Gambhir departed caught behind, the Knights’ innings simply fell apart.
But then, there were still some hopes left when 11 runs were needed in the last over. This was the period when the Kings XI players held their nerves, while the Knights failed to rise to the occasion. A lot was expected from Yusuf Pathan (13), but all he managed was to send the low full toss from Praveen Kumar into David Miller’s hands at deep mid-wicket.
There was more drama in store when Praveen Kumar came to deliver the last ball. With six runs needed for a win, the bowler, to the horror of the Kings XI fans, bowled a wide. It would have surely gone for a four had not veteran Gilchrist dived to stop the ball.
Pity that result of the match has overshadowed Narine’s fine performance with the ball. His hat-trick came in the 15th over when the Kings XI were 99 for three. After Balaji dropped Miller at deep backward square leg, Narine struck the first blow with the fourth ball by taking care of David Hussey.
In came Azhar Mahmood and returned to the pavilion immediately, caught and bowled off the first ball he faced. Gurkeerat was Narine’s third victim as he missed the ball and had his off stump broken.
In his first three overs, the West Indian gave 10 runs, before Gony somewhat spoiled his bowling figures. It was the knock that actually won the match for the Kings XI.
