A BRUTAL unbeaten 70 from Callum Ferguson helped South Australia Redbacks record their first win of the Champions League Twenty20 against Kolkata Knight Riders in Hyderabad yesterday. Redbacks inflicted a second Group B defeat on KKR with a 19-run victory built around Ferguson’s 40-ball that included five boundaries and four sixes.
The Australians scored consistently throughout, with Dan Christian weighing in with 42 from 27 balls and openers Michael Klinger (20) and Dan Harris (26) setting the tone at the start, with Lakshmipathy Balaji being KKR’s most successful bowler, taking two for 27.
That total always looked imposing for a team who has struggled since the qualifying series began earlier this month.
Losing key men Jacques Kallis and Gautam Gambhir for 20 and nine respectively was critical and from that point, they were going to need some remarkable hitting to get close.
Manoj Tiwary did his best, belting 40 off 31 balls, with two fours and two sixes before becoming Kane Richardson’s second wicket.
The run-rate was oppressive heading into the last five overs but the lower order battled bravely, Ryan ten Doeschate striking three fours and two maximums on his way to a 16-ball 32 and Rajat Bathia making a breezy 21.
Regular wickets undermined their progress, though, and they finished 169 for nine with three wickets apiece for Harris and Gary Putland. (PA Sport)