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Kolkata: Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik played a classy knock of 51, as he ensured Gujarat Lions register a comfortable five-wicket win over former champions and hosts Kolkata Knight Rider, in Match 38 of the ongoing Indian Premier League 2016, at Eden Gardens Stadium on Sunday.
Earlier, GL skipper Suresh Raina won the toss and elected to bat first, as KKR posted an above average total of 158 for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs, courtesy of twin half-centuries from Shakib Al Hasan (66), and Yusuf Pathan (63), that also involved a record 134-run stand for the fifth wicket for KKR.
GL openers in the form of Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum were off to a decent start, as they contributed 42 runs, before Smith fell for 27 to Shakib, who bowled him up in the sixth over, followed by a 25-run stand between McCullum and Raina, as McCullum was the next to depart for 29 to Piyush Chawal, after being caught by Ishwar Pandey in the eighth over.
Neverhteless, it was the all-important 49-run stand between Raina and Dinesh Karthik, that allowed GL to set up the platform for their win.
Eventually, at the score of 116, it wad Raina, who fell for mere 14 to Andre Russell, after being caught by Brad Hogg, at deep square leg.
It was then the pair of Karthik and Aaron Finch that made sure that GL were all set for a comfortable win over the former champions.
Nevertheless, after a 39-run stand, Brad Hogg got a consolation break thorugh, as he dismissed Karthik for and impressive 51, who brought it up in 27 deliveries, including eight boundaries and a six, along with a strike rate of 176.
Quickly, there was a brief three-wicket stand between Finch and Ravindra Jadeja, before Finch fell for 29, following a run out; as it was Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo, who made sure that GL register a comfortable five-wicket win, thus taking themselves to the top of the table, while pushing KKR down to third.
Brief scores
Kolkata Knight Riders - 158/4 (Shakib 66*, Pathan 63*, P Kumar 2-19)
Gujarat Lions - 164/5 (Karthik 51)
Result - Gujarat Lions won by 5 wickets
