Early wickets vindicated Gambhir's decision to bowl first ©Reuters
IPL 2014 - Live score: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), Final
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Kolkata Knight Riders 200-7 (19.3 Ovs)
Punjab Kings 199-4
Kolkata Knight Riders won by 3 wkts
Punjab will be keen to avenge their loss in the first qualifier and lift the trophy for the first time. © Cricbuzz
Saha and Vohra added 129 in just 12 overs. ©Reuters
Robin Uthappa was the key batsman for KKR. With ten consecutive scores of 40 or more, KXIP badly needed his wicket early. Mitchell Johnson, their strike bowler, provided exactly that. Uthappa went chasing after a wide delivery but did not keep the ball down. It went straight to the hands of point and left Johnson ecstatic.
Gautam Gambhir and Manish Pandey did not take too many risks but managed to keep up with the required run-rate quite comfortably. Gambhir was extremely fluent with his drives through the off side. Pandey was not as stable but the timing of a few of shots were as good as any on the night.
L Balaji was hit for 18 runs in the 13th over as Yusuf Pathan got going with two massive sixes. Pandey took over the role of an anchor. The duo 71 runs off just 43 balls to keep KKR going.
George Bailey was brilliant inside the circle yet again. His run-out of Raina in the previous game turned the game on its head. Today, Shakib Al Hasan was going well along with Pandey before the KXIP skipper got another direct hit at a crucial juncture. Neither team had the game in their grasp just yet.
Karanveer Singh had already been hit for a six in the over but Doeschate could not hold back from trying another. He holed out to long on while trying so. Poor cricket from an experienced player.
© Cricbuzz
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