Morne Morkel took two big wickets to help Kolkata Knight Riders to a five-wicket win over Royal Challengers in the IPL.
He could be well satisfied after dismissing Chris Gayle with his third ball, and then taking out Virat Kohli for 52.
Morkel played a major part, and in the process cut Gayle down to size. The big West Indian tried to impose himself with a big six off Morkel’s second ball, but then was undone by Morkel bowling the perfect length which Gayle skied to the keeper. AB de Villiers, too, had a day to forget, being lbw for 4.
Morkel had a return of 2-28 off his four overs, and at that point the KKR were looking good with the Challengers at 131-4 after 17 overs. But those following were sorely tested as Shane Watson (34 off 21), Sachin Baby (16 off eight) and Stuart Binny (16 off four) added 54 runs off the last four overs. RCB were seemingly well set at 185-7.
They looked even more comfortable when the Riders fell to 34-2 in the fifth over, but Gautam Gambhir (37 off 29), Andre Russell (39 0ff 24) and Yusuf Pathan (60 0ff 29) provided the impetus to take the Riders to the line. Tabraiz Shamsi was harshly treated, conceding 51 off his four overs.
With two wins from seven, AB could be coming home early, while Jacques Kallis’ Riders climbed to second on the table with five from eight.
Photo: BCCI
