KKR beat Perth Scorchers by three wickets to win a record 12th consecutive match

KKR pulled off a close win over Perth Scorchers to register their record 12^th successive win in T20

Hyderabad – In the battle of champions, Kolkata Knight Riders defeated the Perth Scorchers by three wickets in a thrilling Champions League Twenty20 encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Wednesday.

Chasing Scorchers' total of 151/7, the reigning Indian Premier League (IPL) champions achieved the target with two balls to spare. With the win, the Kolkata-based team won their 12th match on the trot.

The reigning Big Bash League (BBL) champions got the start they needed with openers Adam Voges (71 not out) and Craig Simmons (39). The duo took the Scorchers to 68 for no loss when Simmons had to return to the pavilion.

However, skipper Voges thereon kept running out of partners at regular intervals and could not develop any strong partnership. He was given some support in the middle by wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Whiteman (21) but eventually had to take it upon himself to help the Australian side reach the 150-mark.

Knight Riders' spinners Sunil Narine and Kuldeep Yadav wreaked havoc for the Scorchers, sharing all the seven wickets between themselves. While mystery spinner Narine clinched four, chinaman bowler Yadav went home with three scalps.

Kuldeep Yadav picked 3/24 in 4 overs in his second match for KKR this season

In reply, the Indian team did not start well and kept losing wickets occasionally. However, a special unbeaten knock of 43 from 19 balls, which included four sixes and a boundary, from Suryakumar Yadav saw the team through at the end.

For the Scorchers, Yasir Arafat clinched three wickets while Nathan Coulter-Nile had to be content with two.

Kuldeep, who was playing his second game for KKR this season, was named Man of the Match.

Impressive reception in Hyderabad

After defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Lahore Lions, KKR came out with another impressive performance much to the delight of 15,000 odd fans.

Every shot by the KKR batsmen drew loud cheers from the fans, many of whom were carrying flags of the IPL champions.

KKR, which is playing all its league matches here, enjoying the full backing of the Hyderabad crowd.

Their bowling coach Wasim Akram has termed Hyderabad as the home away from home. "After Kolkata, this is the best city for us. We are enjoying people's support here," said the Pakistani bowling legend.

"It's both. The ground is lucky and we are also working hard," KKR batsman Suryakumar Yadav had said after victory over Lahore Lions on Sunday. His unbeaten 43 off 19 deliveries helped KKR to seal the win.

The Kolkata team will play one more league match before playing semifinal Oct 2.

**Akram and other KKR players fell in love with the historic city. They had dinner at the historic Falaknuma Palace Tuesday. The former Pakistani captain was excited to see the palace, now turned into a five-star hotel.

**The Perth Scorchers Tuesday wore black armbands in a show of respect for a member of the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) who passed away this week.

Brief scores:

Perth Scorchers 151/7 in 20 overs (Adam Voges 71 not out, Craig Simmons 39, Sam Whiteman 21; Sunil Narine 4/31, Kuldeep Yadav 3/24)

lost to

Kolkata Knight Riders 153/7 in 19.4 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 43 not out, Manish Pandey 24, Robin Uthappa 23; Yasir Arafat 3/39, Nathan Coulter-Nile 2/41).