From the iSport IPL Paddock: iSporter Hirok Banerjee shares the post-match analysis of KKR's second win..this time against the Royal Challengers Bangalore!
It was a brave decision. Though chasing at Eden has been historically rewarding for many a team. Yet, considering the absence of Gayle and McCullum in the lineup, it is not an easy decision to bowl first. But, did it pay off !
Angelo Mathews, fresh from a confidence boosting start on Friday, carried off from where he left, picking up the first two wickets to peg back Bangalore to a nervous start. Then in the 6th over, Ganguly brought in Murali Kartik - another bold move considering Virat Kohli having shown signs of playing spin exceedingly well in his short international career so far. A classic combination of loop and temptation from Murali saw Viraat expose his inexperience and being beaten in the flight, holed out to the man of the moment - Angelo at deep mid-wicket.
Eoin Morgan's brisk innings of 7 balls showed promise. This is definitely a guy to watch out for. Bangalore's fortunes will depend on him in all future games. The 2nd ball he faced in IPL, he danced down the track to Brad Hodge and lifted him effortlessly for a six. But he flattered to deceive in the very next over making a horrendous attempt at an ill-chosen reverse-sweep only to drag the ball onto his stumps.
With 4 wickets down, Rahul entered the scene. For Bangalore, this was the make or break partnership. With Kallis holding one end up and keeping the scoreboard going, they went about building the innings. As things appeared to settle down Ganguly brought back Angelo again. And he delivered yet again picking up Rahul. Thereafter, the Challengers' innings petered out with Uthappa scoring 21 and taking Bangalore to 135.
At Eden, this was never going to be enough. Manoj Tiwary and Brad Hodge ensured that. The match turned in the 4th over, 2nd ball to be precise. Hodge played a lovely on-drive which Steyn stopped brilliantly with a bit of footballing skills and threw at the wicket-keeper. Manoj had, in the meanwhile, while taking the first run twisted his ankle and had signalled to Hodge who did not notice. What followed was comic. Both batsmen ended up at the same end and on seeing that Steyn's throw was not gathered well, Manoj dashed for the run and survived.
The next 13 balls yielded 37 runs in what was a blitzkrieg of awesome strokeplay. Tiwary, hindered in movement by that ankle shifted gears and took Kallis to the cleaners with a 4-6-4 and then hit the shot of the match off Steyn - a neat lift over mid-off for a six. Then came Anil to be treated with equal disdain with consecutive fours. The man had arrived. The match was slipping out of Bangalore very quickly. Whatever hope they had was crushed by Hodge, a steady innings with pure cricketing shots and not a moment's madness. Manoj and Hodge both compiled half centuries and got out leaving Kolkata with peanuts to get which they did.
Kolkata is gaining momentum. The thing to be seen is whether they can hold on to this. Ganguly is faced with a problem of plenty. Does he keep on playing Hodge when Gayle and Brendon are there? By the likes of it, it would be a travesty of justice if he does not play Angelo. And Bond at $750,000 has to play. Would be interesting to see how the maverick captain balances this.
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