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Hyderabad: What ails Deccan Chargers at home? No one seems to have the answer to this billion-dollar question. Not even our very own batting legend Sunil Gavaskar.
"One fails to understand why the Chargers are not able to win at home. They have a good side and play on one of the best wickets in the country. It is inexplicable," said Sunny an hour before the start of the game. "They have a very good bowling attack but somehow they have not been able to put enough runs on the board."
For the record, the Chargers crashed to their 13th loss out of 14 matches (four out of five this season) played at home with a 20-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders here on Tuesday.
Chasing 170 for their second win at home, the Chargers got off to a fairly bright start with openers Sunny Sohal and Shikhar Dhawan adding 41 for the first wicket in 5.3 overs.
But a double strike in the sixth over by left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla left the Chargers groping in the dark.
Dhawan and Ravi Teja then entertained the crowds with a 56-run partnership for the fifth wicket but it didn't make any difference to the result.
Earlier, Knight Riders made 169 for 4 for four after being asked to bat first, with Yusuf Pathan riding his luck.
The start of Kolkata's innings was a dawdle by comparison, in spite of Eoin Morgan's innate energy at the crease. He nearly ran himself out first ball, and charged out to the third and dumped Christian over long-on for a six. Thereafter Jacques Kallis settled into accumulation mode. He checked in with a typically pristine set of boundaries, charming Steyn through the covers, before redirecting short balls from Ishant on either side of the wicket for fours.
Gambhir took charge after Christian foxed Morgan with a slow offcutter. Gambhir lofted his first ball emphatically over the covers for four, before slashing Ojha through point. His joust with Christian was the most captivating mini-battle of the session, and included a heaved pull for six, a drop, a collision and a heated exchange of words.
Kolkata progressed to 73 in the first ten overs, and Deccan were in need of some inspiration. The spinners produced just that, with Mishra foxing Kallis in the flight and Ojha hoodwinking Gambhir, but the fielding was about to let them down big-time. Yusuf exacted full toll, and ensured it was another forgettable night for the Hyderabad supporters who have witnessed only one home win in three-and-a-half seasons.
Brief scores
Kolkata Knight Riders 169 for 4 (Yusuf 47*, Gambhir 35, Tiwary 33)
Deccan Chargers 149 for 6 (Dhawan 54, Bhatia 2-26)
Results Kolkata Knight Riders won by 20 runs
MOM Yusuf Pathan (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Points Kolkata Knight Riders 2, Deccan Chargers 0
