Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders cantered to their third back-to-back win to shoot atop the Indian Premier League (IPL) points table with a clinical eight wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals here Sunday.
Lustily cheered by around 45,000 spectators at the majestic Eden Gardens, the Knights shot out the Royals for a miserly 81 and then reached their target with 6.1 overs to spare without much fuss.
In Image: Gambhir plays a stroke
Skipper Gautam Gambhir despatched Shaun Tait to the point fence to carry KKR to 85/2 in 13.5 overs, and bolster their points tally to six from four games.
Needing to score at an easy asking rate of 4.1, the home side lost their star opener Jacques Kallis (0) off the very second ball. The veteran top-edged Tait and Ross Taylor ran in from square-leg to take the catch close to the crease.
In Image: Kolkata Knight Riders team owner and Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan, right cheers as former India cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, left, looks on
The other opener, Manvinder Bisla (9), departed in the seventh over, making it 31/2, but Gautam Gambhir (35 not out off 35 balls) and Manoj Tiwary (30 off 26 balls) put on an unconquered 54-run partnership that saw the Knights through without any more losses.
Earlier, Gambhir won the toss and put the Royals in on what looked like a good batting wicket.
In Image: Kolkata Knight Riders players Manvinder Bisla, center, and Yusuf Pathan, right, celebrate the dismissal of Rajasthan Royals batsman Ross Taylor
Shane Watson (11) and Amit Paunikar (15) gave the Royals a sound start, racing to 24 in the fourth over, but then the rot started.
The two openers were back in consecutive overs, and the procession of batsmen continued thereafter. In the end, only four Royals willowers managed to reach double figures.
In Image: Rajasthan Royals batsman Shane Watson walks back after his dismissal
Pacer Laxmipathy Balaji (3-15) and Bangladesh skipper Shakib al Hasan 2-21) were the most successful bowlers.
Royals now have four points from as many games.
In Image: Kolkata Knight Riders bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji, right, celebrates a wicket
Lustily cheered by around 45,000 spectators at the majestic Eden Gardens, the Knights shot out the Royals for a miserly 81 and then reached their target with 6.1 overs to spare without much fuss.
In Image: Gambhir plays a stroke
Skipper Gautam Gambhir despatched Shaun Tait to the point fence to carry KKR to 85/2 in 13.5 overs, and bolster their points tally to six from four games.
Needing to score at an easy asking rate of 4.1, the home side lost their star opener Jacques Kallis (0) off the very second ball. The veteran top-edged Tait and Ross Taylor ran in from square-leg to take the catch close to the crease.
In Image: Kolkata Knight Riders team owner and Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan, right cheers as former India cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, left, looks on
The other opener, Manvinder Bisla (9), departed in the seventh over, making it 31/2, but Gautam Gambhir (35 not out off 35 balls) and Manoj Tiwary (30 off 26 balls) put on an unconquered 54-run partnership that saw the Knights through without any more losses.
Earlier, Gambhir won the toss and put the Royals in on what looked like a good batting wicket.
In Image: Kolkata Knight Riders players Manvinder Bisla, center, and Yusuf Pathan, right, celebrate the dismissal of Rajasthan Royals batsman Ross Taylor
Shane Watson (11) and Amit Paunikar (15) gave the Royals a sound start, racing to 24 in the fourth over, but then the rot started.
The two openers were back in consecutive overs, and the procession of batsmen continued thereafter. In the end, only four Royals willowers managed to reach double figures.
In Image: Rajasthan Royals batsman Shane Watson walks back after his dismissal
Pacer Laxmipathy Balaji (3-15) and Bangladesh skipper Shakib al Hasan 2-21) were the most successful bowlers.
Royals now have four points from as many games.
In Image: Kolkata Knight Riders bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji, right, celebrates a wicket
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