Kolkata Knight Riders remained at the bottom of ‘Group B’ as they lost by 19 runs to South Australia Redbacks for their second consecutive defeat in Champions League Twenty20 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at the Uppal on Tuesday.
Tight bowling by Redbacks restricted Knight Riders to 169 for nine in 20 overs while chasing a target of 189. Gary Putland and Daniel Harris picked up three wickets each while Kane Richardson backed two.
Knight Riders' top order gave a start but failed to convert them into a big score. Gautam Gambhir, batting at No.4, scored a 31-ball 40 but didn't get any support from the other end as Knight Riders lost wickets at regular intervals. Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate came up with a cameo of 16-ball 32.
Knight Riders needed 51 runs off the last two overs and Rajat Bhatia's 21 off 13 balls helped them to reduce the margin and maintain a better run rate.
Earlier in the day, an unbeaten 40-ball 70, studded with five fours and four sixes, by Callum Ferguson helped Redbacks pile up a mammoth total of 188 for five in 20 overs. Ferguson was also adjudged as the Man of the Match.
Openers Michael Klinger (20) and Daniel Harris (26) gave the Redbacks a good start with their 45-run stand but they departed in successive overs.
Ferguson and Daniel Christian, who struck 42 off 27 balls, added 84-run stand for the fourth wicket that helped Redbacks get a big score.