Lahore Lions lose first CL T20 match post four wicket defeat to KKR

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) recorded a four wickets victory against Lahore Lions, who lost their first league match, in the Champions League Twenty20 league round at Hyderabad.

KKR came into the match with a win in their bags against Chennai Super Kings and they sent Lahore Lions to bat first with the due factor coming into play in the latter half of the match.

Lions were given a solid start by opener Ahmed Shahzad, who amassed 59 runs, as he struck five boundaries and four maximums. No other batsmen was able to make a useful contribution except Umar Akmal who scored a blistering 40 off 24 balls to lead Lions to a respectable total of 151-7, The Express Tribune reported.

Man-of-the-match Sunil Narine was able to capitulate Lahore batsmen as he bagged three wickets for just nine runs in four overs. He said that mainly he was trying to keep down the run rate in the powerplay and hopefully pick up a wicket or two.

The off-spinner said that Kuldeep Yadav is a pretty good bowler but he is young and has a lot to learn.

In reply, Kolkata seemed well above mark in their chase with opener Robin Uthappa and captain Gautam Gambhir scoring 100 runs for the first-wicket partnership. Uthapa fell for 46 in the 12th over. He was accounted by Adnan Rasool.

Soon after the gap of one over Gambhir had to take the long walk back with 60 runs to his name after Mustafa Iqbal cleaned him up.

The match went into a thriller phase as soon as Gambhir's wicket fell. Incoming Manvinder Bisla and Yusuf Pathan, 11, managed to add meager contributions but were accounted by Aizaz Cheema who gave 42 runs in his four overs.

Wahab Riaz was called on to bowl the 19th over with nine required of 12 balls. He was up to the task and trapped Ryan ten Doeschate lbw, spilling away only four runs.

Asif Raza, who bowled only one over was given the task to win the match for Lions. He accounted for Andre Russell on the very first ball, but KKR were then able to steal two runs on the second ball of the last over and Suryakumar Yadav finished the game with four.

Lahore captain Hafeez said in the post-match presentation ceremony that they got the target they wanted to, adding that 150 on this pitch with the way the ball was turning was enough.

Hafeez said that their fielding was not up to the mark as the Lions missed a few chances, but added that still it was a good show, youngsters are learning from every game and they have to give them confidence so they can do well.