IPL: Gujarat Lions overcome Kolkata Knight Riders

Omnisports

May 19, 2016 4:05 AM

Dwayne Smith went from golden boy to golden duck but was able to celebrate a six-wicket Indian Premier League victory for Gujarat Lions over Kolkata Knight Riders.

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In the first IPL match to be staged in Kanpur, Smith tore through the Knight Riders order to post figures of 4-8 from his four overs as the visitors achieved a total of 124-8.

Smith was brought back down to earth when he was dismissed for nought with the first delivery of the Lions' innings, but Suresh Raina's unbeaten 53 saw the hosts over the line.

The result means the Lions jump from fifth to second, level on points with leaders Sunrisers Hyderabad heading into their crucial final fixture against Mumbai Indians.

Knight Riders are two points back in fourth and host Sunrisers in their last match.

Smith was lethal with ball in hand, accounting for four wickets in succession after Gautam Gambhir was run out for eight at the beginning of the fourth over – his best bowling figures in Twenty20 cricket.

Yusuf Pathan's (36) best efforts were not enough to salvage the Knight Riders' innings, and Jason Holder (13) was treated to a 'Champion' escort from the field after being dismissed by a dancing Dwayne Bravo (1-29), with the Lions in high spirits.

Smith's joy at his bowling performance was swiftly tempered by an immediate exit with the bat, but Raina – back in the team following the birth of his daughter – contributed to a comfortable victory, the Lions finishing 125-4 with 39 balls remaining.

Raina's performance saw him surpass 4,000 IPL runs – a marker only previously reached by Virat Kohli, who beat Raina to the milestone last time out for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Just two points now separate the top five in the IPL table as the race for the play-offs nears its climax.

Omnisports

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