Sakib al Hasan won the battle against his national team-mate Mustafizur Rahman as Sakib’s Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders beat Mustafiz’s franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets at Hyderabad on Saturday. After winning the toss Sunrisers scored 142-7 before KKR reached their target scoring 146-2 in 18.2 overs. KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir led his team from the front as the stylish left-handed opener was not out on 90 off 60 balls.
Gambhir, who has been in an outstanding form in this tournament scoring 192 runs in three matches, struck a six and 13 boundaries including the winning shot in the nineteenth over.
Defending a smallish total, Sunrisers had high hopes on Mustafiz and although he uprooted Andre Russell’s middle stump with an unplayable yorker and finished with 29-1 that was not enough for his team to avoid the second defeat in as many matches.
The young pacer conceded just three runs in his first over, the fourth of the innings, and gave away five on his return in the 12th over.
In his next over, the 14th of the innings, he got rid of Russell and conceded seven runs including an overthrow but with just 14 runs to defend from four overs he leaked 15 runs in his last over.
Gambhir struck a four and a six to ruin the bowling figure of the Bangladeshi bowler.
Robin Uthappa, who scored 37, made a 92-run opening stand with Gambhir to set the platform for KKR.
Earlier in the day, Sakib, who did not feature in the first two games for his side, could not pick any wicket but was the most economical bowler in the match conceding just 18 runs off three overs.
-With New Age input
