Hyderabad knocks out Kolkata to seal qualifier 2 berth

NEW DELHI - Sunrisers Hyderabad produced a clinical performance to seal its place in the Qualifier 2 as it crushed the hopes of two-time champion Kolkata Knight Riders with a 22-run win in the Indian Premier League Eliminator here Wednesday. After putting on 162 for eight, riding on Yuvraj Singh’s 30-ball 44, Hyderabad came up with a fine bowling and fielding performance to restrict Kolkata to 140 for eight to progress to the Qualifier 2 for the first time since making its debut in 2013. Hyderabad will now take on the loser of Qualifier 1, Gujarat Lions, Friday for its maiden entry into the summit clash of the tournament. Chasing the target, Kolkata did not have the best of starts as it lost Robin Uthappa (11) early, caught by Moises Henriques at short extra cover off left-arm pacer Barinder Sran (1-29) in the second over. In-form Kolkata captain Gautam Gambhir (28) and Colin Munro (16) then stitched a 38-run partnership before Yuvraj brilliance on the field led to the dismissal of the latter. Yuvraj caught Munro short of the crease with a direct hit from the point with just one stump to aim at as Kolkata slumped to 53 for two after seven overs. To make matters worse for Kolkata, Gambhir returned to the pavilion an over later while going for a big shot only to miscue it to substitute fielder V Shankar at long-on off Ben Cutting. Manish Pandey (36) and Suryakumar Yadav (23) then put on 46-runs for the fifth wicket to keep Kolkata in the hunt. With Kolkata needing 53 off the last five overs, the ever-climbing asking rate took a toll on its batsmen. Kolkata’s hopes were dashed when its top-scorer Pandey holed out at the long-on boundary off Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-19). Earlier, young spinner Kuldeep Yadav scalped three wickets as Kolkata produced a fine bowling performance to restrict Hyderabad to a manageable total. Brief scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 162 for 8 (Yuvraj 44; Kuldeep 3-35) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 140 for 8 (Pandey 36; Bhuvneshwar 3-19) beat by 22 runs.