High on confidence after their remarkable win over Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders will hope to build on their performance against Lahore Lions. Catch all the live updates here (Live Scorecard):
IT'S INDIA VS PAKISTAN
File Photo: A jubilant Kolkata Knight Riders team celebrates with the IPL 7 trophy.
© PTI
Buoyed by a spectacular win over Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural match, Kolkata Knight Riders will takes on spirited qualifiers Lahore Lions in their second game of the Champions League Twenty20.
KKR, this year's IPL champions, scored a remarkable victory over Chennai thanks to a scintillating knock of 58 runs by Andre Russell and Ryan ten Doeschate's unbeaten 51.
Russell, who is in brilliant form following a successful stint in the Carribean Premier League, and ten Doeschate came good when the top order comprising Captain Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Manvinder Bisla and Manish Pandey fumbled.
Kolkata's top batsmen can be match-winners individually and their combined might can make things really difficult for the rivals. Besides a strong batting line-up, the Kolkata side boasts of a competitive bowling department that includes the deadly Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Umesh Yadav, Piyush Chawla and Yusuf Pathan. (Read: Lahore Lions Take on Formidable Kolkata Knight Riders)
PERFECT START FOR KOLKATA
Piyush Chawla (L in purple) hit the winning runs for Kolkata.
© BCCI
Andre Russell smashed a breathtaking half-century while Ryan ten Doeschate struck a fine unbeaten 51 to guide IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders to a seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in a Group A match.
Chasing a competitive 158 for a win, KKR were in trouble after slumping to 51 for five inside 10 overs.
However, Russell (58 off 25) and ten Doeschate shared match-winning 80 runs for the sixth wicket off just 42 balls to keep KKR afloat.
After Russell's dismissal, ten Doeshchate took the onus on himself to guide KKR home and managed to achieve that with six balls to spare.
KKR's chase, however, started on a horrendous note as they lost their first four wickets inside the 30-run mark.
Left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra (4/21) was the wrecker-in-chief for KKR. He accounted for the wickets of KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir, Manish Pandey and Manvinder Bisla in quick succession to rattle CSK.
In fact, Nehra was on the verge of a hat-trick as he dismissed Gambhir and Pandey in consecutive balls in the third over.
Yusuf Pathan too failed to sparkle as he edged a Mohit Sharma delivery to Faf du Plessis in the first slip in the fourth over.
Young Suryakumar Yadav started brightly with a 17-ball 19 before he was caught by Ravichandran Ashwin off Ravindra Jadeja in the ninth over with the KKR scoreboard reading 51 for five in nine overs.
Ten Doeshchate and Russell had other plans though as they started cautiously to build up the chase before opening up. (Read: Andre Russell, Ryan ten Doeschate Ensure Winning Start for Kolkata Knight Riders)
LAHORE LIONS OUT TO SPREAD LOVE
Lahore Lions made it to the main draw of CLT20 after a strong showing in the qualifiers.
© BCCI
Expressing happiness over playing in a major tournament like Champions League Twenty20 in India, Lahore Lions captain Mohammad Hafeez said on Saturday that his team is determined to play well and get support of the crowd.
"It is great to come to India. People are crazy about cricket. When you play well, they support you. We will continue to provide entertainment to the crowd and get more support from them," he told reporters here ahead of Lions clash with IPL defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders here on Sunday.
Hafeez said his teammates were keen to put their best foot forward when they would take on a formidable KKR. (Lahore Lions Want to Win Indian Fans Over)
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