S10M03

The Gambhir-Lynn show – a one sided affair!

Another match with shabby fielding – dropped catches

Praveen Kumar and Shadab Jakati bowled better than Shivil Kaushik, Dhawal Kulkarni, MS Gony and Dwayne Smith, but what was Raina thinking when he didn’t have James Faulkner in the starting XI?

The Gujarat Lions bowlers just waited to be hit around the park as Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn toyed with the ball. The Aussie in particular was severe in treating the bowlers with disdain, picking 8 sixes and the Man of the match.

Kolkata Knight Riders have set the pace for the race to higher NRR in style, this match will ensure they stay ahead in the event of equal points in the table.

Rajkot dished out yet another humiliating 10 wicket loss to the hosts, after that Warner-Dhawan hiding last year.

However, a heartening feature of the Gujarat innings was the form of Dinesh Karthik, who has been a revelation this year in the domestic circuit. Leading his team, Tamil Nadu, two national trophies, the wicket keeper batsman surely had his morale high and is bound to knock on the doors of the selectors for the Champions trophy if he continues to perform thus.

Like the earlier matches Suresh Raina benefitted from few dropped catches and pedestrian fielding to post a half century.

Fielding in the shortest version of the game plays a very important part, what with a few runs saved and crucial run-outs effected changing the course of the game and the eventual results. Coaches have their task cut out in ensuring the players keep their nerve in the face of pressure and concentrated on their fielding as much as their bowling and batting.

Brief Scores:
Gujarat Lions 183 for 4 (Raina 68, Karthik 47, Kuldeep 2-25) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 184 for 0 (Lynn 93*, Gambhir 76*) by 10 wickets

Man of the Match: Chris Lynn