Merwe shines as Somerset beat KKR by 5 wickets

Hyderabad: Roelof van der Merwe smashed a blistering 40-ball 73 to power Somerset to a five-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in their Group B Champions League Twenty20 match here on Sunday.

It was Somerset’s second consecutive win over Kolkata as they had beaten them in the qualifying stage as well.

Electing to bat, Kolkata scored a very competitive 161 for three on a tough pitch, thanks to a consistent Jacques Kallis and a marauding Yusuf Pathan, who sent the Somerset bowlers on a leather-hunt during the last six overs.

Kallis batted through the innings for his unbeaten 74 and Pathan hit a 21-ball 39 as the duo shared 90 runs for the unconquered fourth wicket.

The British team responded with tremendous power-hitting through Merwe and chased down the target with two balls to spare at Rajiv Gandhi International stadium.

As Merwe came out firing on all cylinders, Somerset were comfortably placed at 119 for one in 13 overs but they made it trifle difficult for themselves by losing three quick wickets before sealing the win.

Merwe’s powerful knock was adorned with nine fours and two sixes and he shared 115-run stand with Peter Trego (28).

Somerset had lost the opener Chris Jones (6) to first ball of Iqbal Abdulla’s spell but they still raced to 50 inside fifth over with Merwe scoring the bulk of the runs.

South African Merwe took the Kolkata attack by the scruff of its neck and was hitting all the bowlers cleanly and effortlessly. Such sweet was his timing that even his reverse sweep off Shakib Al Hasan sailed over the boundary easily.

Somerset collected 63 runs in the first six overs, laying the platform for an easy victory. Other opener Trego made his presence felt when he smashed L Balaji for a four over point while Merwe raised his fifty by yet again reverse sweeping Abdulla for a four.

Merwe was hitting anything and everything thrown at him with consummate ease. A wristy six off Kallis over mid-wicket was a treat to watch. The Protea enjoyed a bit of luck too as a couple of his lofty shots fell short of fielders.

The match was slipping out of Kolkata’s hands fast but things changed dramatically when Somerset lost three batsmen, including Merwe, in a space of six balls. Both Trego and Merwe got out in Hasan’s last over with former being run out and latter offering a simple caught and bowled chance. James Hilderth was out for a duck, caught behind off Rajat Bhatia in next over.

Now Somerset needed 32 runs from the last five overs with new batsmen Arul Suppiah and Nick Compton at the crease. Bhatia struck again as he bowled Suppiah (15) off his legs.    Compton (19 not out) held his nerves and guided the side home with only four required off final over.

PTI