Dolphins fail to win one CLT20 match

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Batsmen Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey shared a Champions League Twenty20 record third-wicket partnership of 153 runs off 91 balls to destroy any hope the Dolphins had of breaking their duck in their final Group A match in Hyderabad on Monday.

The Kolkata Knight Riders won by 36 runs to take their unbeaten run in T20 cricket to 13 successive matches, while the Dolphins were left to reflect on what might have been.

They made an excellent start in reducing the Knight Riders 34 for two at the end of the fifth over and 39 for two at the end of the mandatory six-over Powerplay. But there was little joy for them after that, as Uthappa (85 not out off 55 balls, 13 fours) and Pandey (76 not out off 47 balls, five fours and as many sixes) took complete control.

Having done so well in the Powerplay, the Dolphins then saw the game go away from them as the next four overs cost 50, with the three bowlers – Cameron Delport, Anile Phehlukwayo and Khaya Zondo – filling the fifth role conceding 51 runs in their collective four overs.

In reply, the Dolphins lost their first two wickets off the first eight balls of their innings but they still looked as though they had a chance when Zondo and Phehlukwayo added 63 for the fifth wicket in six overs, leaving them needing to score 68 off the last 5.2 overs.

Sunil Narine then closed the match out for the Knight Riders, dismissing both these batsmen as well as the dangerous Robbie Frylinck. Uthappa was named Man of the Match.

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