A well composed 66 run stand between, Eoin Morgan and Rahul Tripathi set the foundation for a 5 wicket win for Kolkata Knight Riders against Punjab Kings. The win comes at the right time for KKR as the two time champions slumped to a 4 match losing streak. More importantly, it was the return of form of Eoin Morgan which would have pleased the team. Tripathi and Morgan build a vital partnership before, the former gifted his wicket, y miscuing Deepak Hooda straight to long off. Punjab Kings needed early wickets and the bowlers respond. Henriques and Shami send back openers - Rana and Gill - inside the first two overs. Ravi Bishnoi then pulled off the catch of the tournament to dismiss Narine. The leggie runs almost 30 meters, dives full length and took it inches from the ground near deep mid-wicket.
Earlier, after being put into bat, Punjab Kings never got going. Only two batsmen - Pooran and Jordan - had a strike of 100 or more. Everyone struggled with the two-paced surface and could not adapt to the conditions. Rahul went inside the powerplay and Gayle bagged a first-ball duck, Mayank threw away his start and if not for Jordan's 18-ball 30 then the final score would have been a lot less. KKR's main bowlers were among the wickets with Prasidh Krishna being the pick with 3 for 30. Moreover, dew made it difficult for Kings to control the chase. Narine, struck twice in two overs to put Kolkata Knight Riders in the ascendancy. He first removed a well-set Mayank Agarwal and then followed it by cleaning up Moises Henriques. The Punjab Kings next face Royal Challengers Bangalore at the same venue on April 30th.
