CLT20: KKR continue unbeaten streak, beat Dolphins by 36 runs

Hyderabad Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandeysmashed attacking halfcenturies to keep IPL champions KolkataKnight Riders winning run intact with a convincing 36runvictory over Dolphins in an inconsequential Group A match ofthe Oppo Champions League Twenty20 here todayWhile Utahappa blazed his way to a fiery 85 off 55 balls with the help of 13 boundaries Pandey matched his senior partner stroke for stroke en route his 47ball 76run knock which was studded with five fours and five huge sixesRobin Uthappaof Kolkata Knight Riders punches the air after reaching his halfcentury during CLT20 match against Dolphins at the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on MondayThe duo stitched an unbeaten 153run stand for off just15 overs for the third wicket to power KKR to 187 for twoafter electing to bat and Sunil Narine picked up three wicketsfor 33 runs to restrict Dolphins to 151 for eight in 20 oversKKR will now face Hobart Hurricanes in the firstsemifinal here on ThursdayWith KKR already assured of a semifinal berth after threeconsecutive wins the tie was more of a practice game for theKolkata outfitDolphins on the other hand had pride to play for having already crashed out of the tournament after losing all their three earlier matchesBut there was hardly anything to cheer for the SouthAfrican side as Uthappa and Pandey slaughtered the Dolphinsbowlers to all parts of the ground to register KKRsrecord partnership for the third wicketChasing the imposing total the Dolphins witnessed ahorrendous start as they slumped to 57 for four in 86 oversOpener Cameron Delport and Cody Chetty was dismissed inthe first two overs but skipper Morne van Wyk kept aliveDolphins fight with a 28ball 34 during which he struck fivefours and one six before he became parttime spinner YusufPathans 225 second victim of the dayIn between Vaughn van Jaarsveld 19 was stumped byUthappa off Piyush ChawlaWith Dolphins in a spot of bother Khaya Zondo 32 andAndile Phehlukwayo 37 produced a rearguard 63run fifthwicket partnership to keep the Dolphins still in the huntYoung Phehlukwayo scored a quickfire 37 off 18 balls anddecoraetd his knock with six fours and one six to show thecricketing world his potential Mystery spinner Narine broughthis innings to a close by going through his defence in the15th overAn over later Robbie Frylinck 11 and Zondo fell inconsecutive balls in similar fashion caught by Chawla to giveNarine a hattrick opportunity which did not materialiseWith Dolphins needing 52 runs off the last three oversJonathan Vandiar too perished in the next over in search ofquick runsFrom there on victory was just a formality for KKR whichthey accomplished in consummate easeEarlier electing to bat KKR did not have the best ofstarts as they lost two wickets early with the team scorereading just 34 runsWhile skipper Gautam Gambhir 12 was cleaned byFrylinck 129 in the fourth over new man in Jacques Kallistoo was out bowled by Craig Alexander 136 in the last ballof the next over after the veteran South Africa started hisknock with hit over the fenceBut then Uthappa and Pandey joined hands and produced asome scintillating strokeplay during their unconqueredpartnershipUthappa was the more aggressive among the duo at thestart but Pandey used his long handle with great effect andcaught up with his partner as the match progressed He lookedthe more dangerous towards the fag end of the innings as hedealt in just boundaries and sixesIn fact Pandey smashed Kyle Abbott for two boundariesand as many sixes to pick up 22 runs off the 18th over thehighest of the innings