IPL 2017: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 5 Talking Points
The Kolkata Knight Riders thrashed the Sunrisers Hyderabad by 17 runs in the first match of the double-header at the Eden Gardens. The win ensured that the Knights maintained their unbeaten record against the Sunrisers at home. In the five encounters at the Eden Gardens so far, the Hyderabad outfit have failed to get the better of the home team.
The hosts powered to a huge first innings total of 172, courtesy a brilliant 68 by Robin Uthappa. The run chase was always going to be a difficult one on a dry wicket which was conducive to spin bowling, resulting in the defending champions falling short at the end.
Extra Cover: IPL 2017: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Player Ratings
Take a look at the five talking points from today’s encounter:
#1 Uthappa rides his luck
Robin Uthappa made the most of the two reprieves he received to punish the bowling unit of the Sunrisers as he smashed 68 runs off just 39 deliveries. The Karnataka batsman should have been dismissed for a golden duck when he nicked an away going delivery from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, only for the appeal to be turned down by the umpire Anil Dandekar.
The 31-year-old made full use of the opportunity as he forged a crucial partnership with Manish Pandey. The duo put on 77 runs for the third wicket to set the platform for a huge first innings total of 172. Playing the role of an aggressor, Uthappa went about dominating the bowlers. He was at his best and often used his favourite pick up shot from outside the off stump to dispatch it towards the deep midwicket boundary.
The right-handed batsman was let off again by Shikhar Dhawan on 47 at deep mid wicket after he failed to pick up the googly from Rashid Khan. He went through with his slog sweep and a poor effort by Dhawan in the field enabled the ball to land just inches short of his dive.
The attacking innings was studded with five boundaries and four maximums.