Uthappa guides Knight Riders to six-wicket win over Indians

Man of the match Robin Uthappa reaches his half-century. Pic courtesy: BCCI

Cuttack, May 14 (IANS) Robin Uthappa struck a blistering 52-ball 80 to guide Kolkata Knight Riders to a six-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Barabati Stadium here Wednesday.

Uthappa’s whirlwind knock saw Knight Riders chase down the target of 142 with eight balls to spare. Uthappa was also adjudged Man of the Match.

It was another comprehensive performance by the Knight Riders after their skipper Gautam Gambhir opted to field.

Knight Riders’ spin duo Sunil Narine (1/18) and Shakib Al Hasan (1/21) were at their miserly best to restrict Mumbai Indians to 141 for five in 20 overs.

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma top scored with 51 in 45 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes, while Ambati Rayudu made 33 off 27 balls with the help of three fours and a six.

Uthappa made the chase look easy as he single-handedly demolished the Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack. He smashed nine fours and three sixes.

Gambhir and Manish Pandey made identical 14 while Yusuf Pathan remained unbeaten on 20.

Uthappa almost took the team home safely but fell in the 16th overs as Knight Riders were just 26 runs away from the win. He was castled by Lendl Simmons as he tried to make room to play it on the leg side, but his middle stump was uprooted.

Harbhajan Singh was the only bowler who got some respect as he picked up two for 22 from his four overs.