Uthappa’s aggressive 87 helps KKR to secure victory
Robin Uthappa flays 87 off 47 balls.
Robin Uthappa flays 87 off 47 balls.

 

ROBIN Uthappa’s highest score of 87 in IPL 2017 helped Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to ease past Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) by 7 wickets in Match 30 at Pune.
With this win, KKR have inched closer to playoffs as they are at the top of the table with 12 points while RPS remain at No. 4 spot.
Chasing a target of 183, skipper Gautam Gambhir also notched a 46-ball 62 to provide support to the wicketkeeper-batsman.
While Uthappa decorated his knock with seven boundaries and six hits over the fence, Gambhir innings was laced with six fours and one six.
The duo stitched a partnership of 158 runs off just 85 balls for the second wicket to help KKR chase down the 183-run target with 11 balls to spare.
Earlier, Steven Smith led from the front with an unbeaten 51 to lift Pune to a challenging 182 for five. Smith’s half-century came off 37 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six.
Besides Smith, Ajinkya Rahane (46 off 41 balls), Rahul Tripathi (38 off 23), MS Dhoni (23 off 11) and Daniel Christian (16 off 6) also made useful contributions for the home team.
Left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers for KKR with figures of two for 31. Chasing the target, Sunil Narine (15 off 9 balls) once again got KKR off to a brisk start before he was run-out in the third over.
Then Uthappa and Gambhir joined forces and took control of the chase with a bit of luck in their favour.
Uthappa was lucky to have survived a close lbw call before he opened his account and later when Jaydev Unadkat made a mess of a chance at deep midwicket, off Imran Tahir’s bowling, with the batsman on 12.
The stylish right-hander grabbed the opportunities with both hands and thereafter opened his arms to strike boundaries and sixes at will. (Cricket Country)

 

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