KKR and Redbacks clash as they search for first win
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Rocked by two consecutive defeats, Kolkata Knight Riders badly need a win as they take on an equally desperate South Australian Redbacks in their next Champions League Twenty20 match, here on Tuesday.
Twice Kolkata lost to Somerset — in qualifying and on Sunday — and now need to do well in the remaining three Group stage matches.
The Australian side is also coming into the match after suffering a heavy 50-run defeat against Warriors and on Tuesday's contest promises to be a fiercely-fought duel, as neither side would like to face an early exit from the event.
Despite defeat, KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir was able to draw some positives. He hoped that veteran Jacques Kallis and big-hitting Yusuf Pathan would continue to score heavily.
Both the batsmen are in good form and it was on the back of their solid show that Kolkata could set a stiff target of 162 against Somerset.
More than anything, skipper Gambhir himself would be eager to get back into the groove as he is coming into the tournament after suffering a concussion and didn't make a great start by getting out for a duck in first ball he faced.
The England ODI series is looming large and Gambhir would like to test his fitness and set the tempo.
Kolkata also need to search deep into its bowling woes as the frontline bowlers are leaking too many runs. Roelof van der Merwe ripped apart their attack yesterday and Somerset were scoring at a run-rate of almost 10 till 12 overs.
Although the bowlers made a recovery in the end but the damage done at the start was beyond redemption and they ended up losing the match.
Redbacks too are struggling with both batting and bowling and will have raise their level as Kolkata are very much capable of coming out of difficult situation.
Redbacks need skipper Michael Klinger, Callum Ferguson and experienced paceman Shaun Tait to fire.
The teams (from):
South Australian Redbacks: Michael Klinger (C), Aaron O'Brien, Adil Rashid, Callum Ferguson, Cameron Borgas, Chadd Sayers, Daniel Christian, Daniel Harris, Gary Putland, James Smith, Kane Richardson, Nathon Lyon, Shaun Tait, Tim Ludeman and Tom Cooper.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir (C), Jacques Kallis, L Balaji, Manvinder Bisla, Jaidev Unadkat, Manoj Tiwary, Mohammed Shami Ahmed, Rajat Bhatia, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Shakib Al Hasan, Shreevats Goswami, Yusuf Pathan, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Gautam Gambhir and Iqbal Abdulla.
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