IPL 2020: Shubman Gill and Pat Cummins power Kolkata Knight Riders to win over Sunrisers Hyderabad

Kolkata ease to seven-wicket win in Abu Dhabi

Shubman Gill of Kolkata Knight Riders plays a shot during match 8 of season 13 of Indian Premier League (IPL) between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Sunrisers Hyderabad held at the Sheikh Zayed StaShow more

One of the game’s established stars and one of its emerging ones combined to take Kolkata Knight Riders to an easy win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL in Abu Dhabi.

First, Pat Cummins, the No 1 bowler in Test cricket and the costliest auction signing ahead of this season, excelled with the ball to limit the job required for Kolkata’s batsmen.

Then Shubman Gill, the young Indian opener, duly obliged with an assured half-century to take KKR to a seven-wicket win at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Cummins had a chastening start to the campaign a few nights earlier – so bad, indeed, that he was not even trusted to bowl all his overs.

He proved this time, though, that $2.1 million (Dh7.7m) does buy class. He went for just 19 from his four overs, took the wicket of dangerman Jonny Bairstow, and picked up a run out, too.

There was a clue to the fact scoring might not be so easy when Hyderabad started out.

Their opening partnership of David Warner and Bairstow is among the most destructive anywhere in T20 cricket.

But Bairstow, who was on a purple patch of form coming into the game, managed just five from 10, before falling to Cummins.

Warner fared a little better, but 36 from 30 was someway short of the rate he usually goes at.

At least Manish Pandey was able to prop up the Hyderabad effort, as he made 51 before falling in peculiar fashion to Andre Russell, caught and bowled off a high full toss.

Pandey’s effort meant Hyderabad were able to make 142 for four from their 20 overs. Most agreed it was short of par at the break.

And so it proved, as Gill batted through the innings for 70 not out as KKR breezed to the win with two overs to spare.