Kolkata Knight Riders produced a disciplined bowling display as they beat Auckland Aces by two runs in a thrilling low-scoring Champions League Twenty20 qualifiers match in Hyderabad on Monday.
Electing to bat, KKR scored a modest 121 for six after they suffered a batting collapse but their bowlers produced a superb show to restrict Auckland to 119 for six in a match that went down the wire after many twist and turns.
Auckland lost their first wicket in the first ball of their run chase, recovered at 60 for one and then slumped to 61 for four in the 10th over. They were still in for an upset victory but with pressure piling they eventually fell short by two runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Auckland needed 11 runs from the last over bowled by Brett Lee but they could score just eight runs.
KKR used as many as seven bowlers and all of them did well, either taking wickets or bowling economically. Yusuf Pathan was the picked of the KKR bowlers with figures of 2/21 -- the two wickets coming in the space of three balls.
Rajat Bhatia and captain Jacques Kallis chipped in with a wicket each.
KKR fielding also rose to the occasion with two crucial run outs.
Auckland run chase began on a disastrous note with Martin Guptill run out in the very first ball of the innings bowled by Iqbal Abdulla.
Adams played towards midwicket and Guptill wanted a single but Ryan ten Doeschate's throw was quick enough for wicketkeeper Manvinder Bisla to removed the bails.
