Kolkata overcame Hyderabad in Sunday encounter to start their Indian T20 League 2021 campaign on a positive note. Rana and Tripathi helped Kolkata to get 187 and it was enough to take two points despite good efforts from Bairstow and Pandey.
Toss: Hyderabad opted to field first
Venue: Chepauk Stadium, Chennai
Detailed Match Report
First Innings (Kolkata 187/6)
Kolkata’s four overseas picks were Cummins, Morgan, Russell, and Shakib while Hyderabad went with Warner, Bairstow, Nabi, and Rashid. Kolkata off to a brilliant start and added 53 runs for the first wicket. Warner introduced four bowlers in the powerplay and finally, Rashid broke the stand after picking Shubhman Gill. Rahul Tripathi joined Nitish Rana and Kolkata’s flawless batting continued. Rana completed a fine half-century with a six. The Purple outfit crossed 100 in 12th over. Hyderabad conceded easy boundaries and Rashid looked like a lone warrior. Tripathi completed his 1000 runs in Indian T20 League with a fine half-century.
Natarajan broke the 93-run stand with Tripathi’s wicket. Russell came to bat at number four and Rashid grabbed him on 5. Rana scored 80 off 56 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes and Nabi picked him in the 18th over, followed by Morgan’s wicket on the next ball. In the last five overs, Hyderabad bowled very well but Karthik’s quick cameo of 9-ball 22 helped Kolkata to get 187 on board.
Second Innings (Hyderabad 177/5)
Kolkata started with Harbhajan Singh and Cummins dropped Warner on the fourth ball. Prasidh Krishna picked Warner behind the stumps and Shakib got Saha to leave Hyderabad struggling at 10/2. Bairstow and Manish Pandey fought hard with a half-century stand and at the halfway mark, Hyderabad were 77/2. Jonny Bairstow scored a 32-ball half-century with a huge six to Chakravarthy in the 12th over and his side crossed 100 runs in the same over.
Cummins trapped Bairstow on 55 after 3 dot deliveries and this economical over brought Kolkata on the driver’s seat. The required-run rate hit 14 in the final five overs and Hyderabad missed out boundaries at the crucial time. Manish Pandey completed his fine half-century under pressure. Samad fought hard with some clinical hits in the end. Scoring just 35 in the powerplay and allowing Karthik to fire in death-overs made a big difference for Hyderabad. Cummins and Russell did the final job to take two points from this game. They also claimed their 100th win in Indian T20 League history which is a record.
Star Performer of the Match
Nitish Rana is our star performer of the match. The Kolkata opener played a fine knock of 80 off 56 balls and he provided the base for Kolkata to set a big total. He smashed 9 fours and 4 sixes during this match-winning knock.
5 impactful players of the match
Nitish Rana 80 (56)
Jonny Bairstow 55 (40)
Rahul Tripathi 53 (29)
Manish Pandey 61 (44)
Rashid Khan 24/2
