Gambhir, Morgan power KKR to an imposing 180 for four

Riding on significant contributions from skipper Gautam Gambhir and Eoin Morgan, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders posted an imposing 180 for four against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a Pepsi Indian Premier League match, here today.
Gambhir scored an attractive 53 off 45 balls with the help of six boundaries and a big six while Morgan helped the home team finish with flourish, courtesy his breezy 47 off 21 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes in the process.
Legendary all-rounder Jacques Kallis also scored a useful 41 off 27 deliveries with six fours. Kallis and Morgan smashed 67 runs for the third wicket in only five overs which made the total look mammoth one, considering the slow nature of the track.

In fact, 18th over from Thisara Perera yielded 22 runs as the left-hander hit him for three fours and a six.
Manvinder Bisla (28), who hasn't made much of an impact in the earlier matches, showed positive intent as he came down the track to hit off-spinner Hanuma Vihari for a couple of boundaries.
The Haryana lad used the Powerplay overs to good effect as he repeatedly lofted the bowlers during the first six overs as he hit five boundaries in the process.

Not the one to be left behind, skipper Gambhir also started taking on the bowlers as the 50 run partnership was completed in only 6.4 overs.

Bisla however couldn't curb his impetuosity as he tried to hoick rookie Railways leg-spinner Karan Sharma but was caught in deep by Vihari.
There was no stopping Gambhir who was even successful in bisecting the fielders stationed at the boundary line when he hit Amit Mishra. The skipper then lofted Karan for a big six over long-on. The left-hander completed his 50 with seven boundaries, including and a six.
The KKR skipper didn't last long once he completed his half-century as medium pacer Ashish Reddy bowled one in the blockhole which uprooted the off-stump.