Uthappa, Shakib steer Kolkata Knight Riders to 195 for four

Unbeaten 51-ball 83 by Robin Uthappa and Shakib Al Hasan's 60 powered Kolkata Knight Riders to a massive 195 for four against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their IPL fixture here today.
With his fifth half-century, Uthappa climbed to the leading run-getters list in the ongoing Indian Premier League.
In-form Uthappa played the full 20 overs and slammed 10 fours and a six during his undefeated knock to stage a remarkable recovery in the able company of Shakib Al Hasan, after they were reduced to 56 for three in the seventh over at the sun-bathed Eden Gardens in the afternoon.
The duo put together 121 runs from 70 balls for the fourth wicket, and Shakib was more brutal than Uthappa scoring his 60 (5x4, 3x6) off 38 balls, his second fifty of the season. He smashed rookie legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal for three sixes and a boundary as KKR stole 24 runs in an over.

Uthappa (572) usurped the Orange Cap from Glen Maxwell (533), who was holding on to the pole of the leading run-getters list since the start of season seven in Abu Dhabi on April 16.
Interestingly, Uthappa has not scored less than 40 runs after he was promoted at the top of the order when KKR's India leg began at Ranchi. His tally in the eight matches read: 475.

Uthappa and Shakib exposed RCB's bowling frailty. Local man Ashok Dinda was wayward, while the spin attack in Muttiah Muralitharan, Chahal and Yuvraj Singh could not make any inroads.
Chahal was the most expensive bowler, leaking 50 runs from his quota, while Yuvraj conceded 21 from his two overs.

Earlier, put in to bat, it was not a typical start from KKR as skipper Gautam Gambhir (4) was dismissed in the fifth ball of the day when the southpaw edged one behind his legs to wicketkeeper Yogesh Takawale in their must-win match.
At the other end local lad Dinda, who replaced Varun Aaron, gave the second breakthrough dismissing Manish Pandey (13) cheaply.