Vs
Ground Reality and Pitch:
The home ground of the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins, Kingsmead Durban is the ground which is mythically known for the tidal influence because of its close proximity to the sea. Indian fans will have mixed memories of the ground - it was here that India were skittled out for 100 and 66 in two innings against an Allan Donald led South African attack. But it was also here that Yuvraj Singh hit 6 sixes against Stuart Broad.
It has a seating capacity of 25,000.
The pitch has traditionally favoured the seamers, but has mellowed down in the last few years, and though not a batting paradise, it shouldn't be a batting graveyard either.
Team News:
Kolkata Knight Riders: The Knight Riders are still in the process of looking for their Knight in shining pads and gloves. A SWOT analysis of their chances before the IPL would have revealed explosive openers, and a decent attack as strenghts, lack of Indian batting strenght and lop-sided team balance (the team depends almost exclusively on the imports to win) as weaknesses, unearthing new talent as an opportunity, and team disunity as a threat. After one match the analysis would stay the same, except that the openers have exploded with all the verve of a damp firecracker, and the attack has only made the opposition batsmen look decent. With the strenghts drying up, and the weaknesses more glaring, the master of all he surveys in the Knight Riders camp - Buchanan - decided on the master-stroke of leaving Ajantha Mendis out of the playing eleven. This, after Kumble, Warne, Harbhajan, Jayasuriya and Vettori had shown the value of quality spin in these conditions. To be fair to him, he might have been deciding who would captain the side during the strategy breaks, so was understandbly too busy to pay close attention to team selection.
King's Eleven Punjab: They are pretty much in the same boat as the Knight Riders, with two important differences: 1.) their boat hasn't yet sunk as low as KKR's and 2.) they have the incentive of a Preity Zinta hug if they win the match. After a dismal start, this is their best chance to put some early points on the board against a team in disarray. If Karan Goel can carry forward his form, and Sangakkara can add the runs that are expected of him, they will have a chance to put up a fighting total. The bowling remains a major worry though.
Players to Watch:
Ajantha Mendis: Was inexplicably left out of Kolkata's first match, but it would be unthinkable to leave him out this time. Can control the middle overs the way the other spinners have done for their sides, making scoring difficult for the Kolkata batsmen.
Karan Goel: Showed undoubted promise during his brief, explosive innings in Punjab's opening match. For his own sake, and for the team, he needs to carry on, and get a 50+ score, which, if scored at the pace he did last time, would give the King's Eleven a very good platform.
Numbers Game:
55.88 - Brad Hodge's average in test match cricket. He has played only 6 test matches for Australia.
5.65 - Ishant Sharma's economy rate in ODIs, which is higher than Ajit Agarkar's (5.07)
Trivia:
Brad Hodge is amongst the unluckiest players of his generation. Not only has he played at time when it was impossible to break into the Australian middle order, but in the few chances he did get, fate seemed to be against him. In his first 12 matches, his highest score was 99 Not Out, with a second highest of 97 Not Out. He also scored 49 (out) during that period. He has played just 25 ODIs for Australia, with one century and 3 fifties, scored at a strike rate of 87.51.
Soundbytes:
"It was a cricketing decision. People who have cricketing head and mind -- Dada (Ganguly), (John) Buchanan and team management -- had taken the decision. I hope it is for the betterment of the team." - Shah Rukh Khan.
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