It was a different Mohali pitch from the green, moist track that saw the KXIP bowlers on top of the Pune batters and Gilchrist decided to have first use of it in an attempt to put on a good total. Unfortunately for his side, KKR were on their game today as their strong bowling attack were all over Punjab. Lee started really nicely and was one the one to put an end to the opening partnership as Valthaty edged a pacy ball behind to a smart catch from Bisla. Gilchrist and Marsh, Punjab's go to partnership, set about rebuilding and KXIP will have right to feel aggrieved with the dismissals of both men. Gilchrist had reached his top score of the season, having played nicely to reach 28* when he pulled a hamstring coming through for a quick single. He was unable to continue, later returning for some brief hitting out at the end to reach 40* from 30, and this handed Kolkata the initiative, which they would not give up, when the match had been in the balance. Marsh, who has been such an important player for Punjab in the last 5 years, was looking comfortable when he edged Lee behind to a tumbling take from Bisla who immediately claimed the catch. Marsh (33) took his word for it and walked off, despite replays indicating the ball may have bounced. Punjab never got going from there, Bhatia was exceptional in containing at the end, now going 2 games without conceding a boundary with 4-0-23-1. KKR's other stars were Brett Lee (4-0-26-2) who was good at the start and came back impressively with the crucial wicket of Marsh, I thought he deserved MoM, particularly with the energy he brought in the field as well. Narine's box of tricks was was too much for KXIP again as he grabbed himself 4-0-24-2 as Punjab looked cautious and unsure when facing up to him. It was a brilliant performance from KKR having lost the toss, and they must have saved a good 15-20 runs, McCullum's remarkable effort on the boundary stood out as his momentum was taking him over the rope mid-leap before flicking it back in to save a certain 6, all in one motion too! It was a great team effort from KKR to keep Punjab down to 124/7 on a batting pitch and put them well in control.
McCullum returned to the KKR line up, to open up alongside Gambhir as they started strongly to effectively put the game beyond doubt. As is his way McCullum was sauntering up the wicket and swinging Kumar and Mascarenhas around, he really is a tough man to bowl to, as Gambhir was pure class and barely played a shot in anger and just picked any ball just marginally off target to hit to the fence. Chawla bowled well again for Punjab, a rare star in an otherwise poor display from KXIP, to dismiss both McCullum and later Bisla to take 2-19 but Gambhir was ever present to seal the match, finished in style with a huge straight six from Kallis (30* from 23). Gambhir (MoM) played a terrific knock, he barely took a single risk and somehow finished with 66* at a strike rate of 150, with one glorious pick up off his legs from Harmeet Singh for 6 early on. Punjab were lacking a quick, strike bowler today and the chase was all too easy as a result. Kumar is a great opening bowler, both Mascarenhas and Singh have shown very impressive changes of pace to fool batsman and Chawla is a top leggie. However, they lack that bowler who can come on and bowl one over of real pace to knock over a partnership, a Malinga/Morkel/Steyn/Lee type figure for the captain to thrown the ball to and this was very evident today as it looked all to easy for KKR's world class players. Stuart Broad could have been that man and they'll be disappointed to see him out of the tournament injured, a big loss.
All in all, a top performance from a Kolkata side under plenty of pressure, as they proved why they are up there with the other favourites to win the title. They have no fill in bowlers and thus can send down 20 quality overs and with a batting line-up like theirs, KKR have the potential to beat any side. Punjab, on the other hand will wish they'd scored the runs that the pitch was offering. Their batting line-up is not the deepest and you always get the feeling that their big players at the top, Gilchrist, Marsh and Hussey, are playing within themselves so as not to lose to expose their lesser experienced players, not want you need in a 20/20 game. Perhaps they need to reproduce that bowlers pitch that seemed to suit them so well against Pune. KKR were a treat to watch today, the perfect display and one they'll hope will lead to a few more wins to lift up the table further.
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