Cricket

Gayle force hits Eden after Mohali

Chris Gayle continued his marauding form with a third consecutive 50-plus score, smashing an unbeaten 62 in King's XI Punjab's nine-wicket victory against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Chris Gayle hit an unbeaten 62, his third fifty-plus knock on the trot, as Kings XI Punjab recorded a massive nine-wicket win against hosts Kolkata Knight Riders at the rain-hit Eden Gardens yesterday.

The 38-year-old Jamaican, who only a couple of days back said that Vireder Sehwag has saved the Indian Premier League by drafting him in the billion-dollar tournament, once again provided the flare he is revered for in the shortest format of the game.

The power-hitting left-hander made the impressive Kolkata total of 191 an easy chase in company of Lokesh Rahul as the left-right opening pair plundered 96 runs before rain intervened in 8.2 overs.

Interestingly, Gayle hit the last ball before rain for a six against leg-spinner Piyush Chawla to complete his fifty off 27 balls. He then hit the same bowler for another six when the game resumed and Kings XI were given a revised target of 125 in 13 overs. Kings XI raced to the target with 11 balls to spare and for the loss of Rahul, who hit a blistering 27-ball 60 that contained nine fours and two sixes.

Gayle, who hit a majestic 104 in the previous game against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Mohali, struck half a dozen sixes and five fours in his 38-ball 62 and in the process became the leading run-scorer of the tournament.

It was Kings XI's first win in their last six attempts at the Eden and they finished as table-toppers of the IPL on Saturday.

SCORES IN BRIEF

KKR: 191 for 7 (Lynn 74, Karthik 43, Uthappa 34; Tye 2-30)

Kings XI Punjab: 126 for 1 (Target 125 in 13 overs) Gayle 62 not out, Rahul 60; Narine 1-23)

Result: Kings XI won by 9 wickets (D/L method)

Player-of-the-match: Lokesh Rahul.

Comments

ফ্লোটিলার জাহাজ "ফ্লোরিডায়" ইসরায়েলি সেনা। ছবি: রয়টার্স

ফ্লোটিলার ৭ জাহাজের পেছনে ছুটছে ইসরায়েলি বাহিনী

ইসরায়েলি সেনাদের দাবি—গ্লোবাল সুমুদ গ্লোটিলা’র ৪৭টি নৌযানের ৪০টিই এখন তাদের নিয়ন্ত্রণে। ওই জাহাজগুলো থেকে দুই শতাধিক মানবাধিকারকর্মীকে গ্রেপ্তার করে ইসরায়েলের আশদোদ বন্দরে নিয়ে যাওয়া হচ্ছে। সেখান...

১ ঘণ্টা আগে