CLT20: Gambhir, Uthappa shine as KKR beat Lahore Lions in close encounter

Kolkata Knight Riders notched their second consecutive win with a four-wicket victory over Lahore Lions in a Champions League Twenty20 Group A encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium Sunday. A brilliant 100-run stand for the opening wicket between captain Gautam Gambhir (60) and Robin Uthappa (46) helped the Indian Premier League (IPL) side overhaul the Lions’ score of 151 for seven. [caption id=“attachment_1723531” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The Knight Riders were coasting at 100 for no loss but made a meal of things towards the latter half by losing six wickets for under 50 runs. PTI[/caption] The Knight Riders were coasting at 100 for no loss but made a meal of things towards the latter half by losing six wickets for under 50 runs. In the end, Suryakumar Yadav, 14 not out off five balls, kept his cool to steer KKR to victory with three balls to spare. Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad smashed 59 off 42 balls as the Lions sped to 50 for no loss in the sixth over. But opener Nasir Jamshed’s run out in the seventh over opened the floodgates as the Pakistan outfit lost five wickets for the next 50 runs. Umar Akmal blitzed his way to 40 off just 24 balls to take his team to a fighting score. West Indian spinner Sunil Narine was the pick of the bowlers grabbing three wickets while Pat Cummins, Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav all chipped in with one each. BRIEF SCORES Lahore Lions: 151 for seven in 20 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 59, Umar Akmal 40; Sunil Narine 3-9, Pat Cummins 1-38) Kolkata Knight Riders: 153 for six in 19.3 overs (Gautam Gambhir 60, Robin Uthappa 46; Adnan Rasool 1-28. Aizaz Cheeks 2-42). IANS