Gambhirs fifty steers Kolkata to 9-wkt win over Punjab

CUTTACK: Gautam Gambhirs third successive fifty anchored Kolkata Knight Riders chase and steered them to a nine-wicket win over table-toppers Kings XI Punjab. Earlier the Knight Riders bowlers had pinned Kings XI down to 149 - the second time in the tournament they were kept to less than 150 - despite a swift 72 from Virender Sehwag.

The opening pair of Robin Uthappa and Gambhir - with two hundred-run stands in their last few games - set the platform for the chase racing to 68 in seven overs.

Uthappas fluency was evident early on as he laid into Sandeep Sharma during the bowlers second over taking three fours off him before collecting another 18 off Mitchell Johnson. Uthappas 28-ball 46 brought the run-rate within control and put the chase firmly within Knight Riders reach.

Captain Gautam Gambhir and Manish Pandey steered the KKR to an easy win after Robin Uthappa got out for 46.

Gambhir made an unbeaten 63 off 45 balls and Pandy remained not out on 36. Both added 82 for an unbeaten second wicket partnership.

Earlier, Virender Sehwag smashed a 50-ball 72 with eleven fours and a six but no other batsman could make any significant contribution.

Leg-break bowler Piyush Chawla claimed three wickets for 19 runs for Kolkata.