The two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions are the only other team apart from Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) to win all their matches so far in the CLT20 2014. With a quality batting line-up and a world-class bowling attack, and importantly, both working well in tandem, KKR have beaten all the teams in their path to enter the knock-out stage in style. They were made to sweat in their first three matches, but KKR kept their cool and managed to overcome Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Lahore Lions and Perth Scorchers. In their final league match, Kolkata secured a comfortable win against the Sunfoil Dolphins to enter the semi-final unbeaten.
In the list of top run-getters in the CLT20 2014, none of the KKR batsmen feature in the top 5. The reason being, there have been different batsmen rising up to the occasion in each of their matches so far and the Knight Riders have not been solely dependent on one or two. If Andre Russell and Ryan ten Doeschate came up with splendid knocks against CSK, skipper Gautam Gambhir led from the front against the Lions. Youngster, Suryakumar Yadav took Perth by complete surprise before Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey came up with a record partnership against the Dolphins. The fact that most of the batsmen have come up with crucial contributions augers well for the Knight Riders. However, there have been a couple of top-order collapses, which the 2014 IPL champs will be keen to avoid.
Sunil Narine has been Kolkata's spearhead and it is no surprise that he is topping the top wicket-takers' list, considering that none of the sides have been able to come to terms with his mystery bowling. Kuldeep Yadav, the 19-year-old left-arm chinaman bowler, has also been impressive while Piyush Chawla has done a decent job. Yusuf Pathan, with his part-time off-spin, has been economical too. On spin-friendly Indian tracks, Kolkata have banked mostly on their spinners, who have not let them down so far. The seamers, on the other hand, have not had it easy. The likes of Russell, Pat Cummins, Jacques Kallis and Umesh Yadav have gone for quite a few in this tournament. KKR will be hoping that the quick bowlers can come up with a disciplined effort and complement the spinners. The Knight Riders will also want Narine to tread cautiously,
The runners-up of the Big Bash League 2013/14, Hobart have been one of very few overseas teams who have impressed in this edition of the CLT20. Unlike the BBL champs Perth, who were pretty inconsistent and failed to make it to the knock-out stage, the Hurricanes, riding on a few clinical performances, made it to the final four round. While they suffered a defeat at the hands KXIP in their maiden CLT20 match, the Hurricanes came back well, chasing down a commanding total against Cape Cobras. In their next game, Hobart tamed the Northern Knights before easing past the line against Barbados Tridents.
With back-to-back half-centuries against the Knights and Tridents, Aiden Blizzard has been in fine form. Shoaib Malik too has come up with a couple of important contributions and has played a pivotal role in the middle order. The rest of the batters though, have bee very inconsistent. Ben Dunk, apart from a fifty against Cobras, has not done much in this tournament. Skipper, Tim Paine too has not quite made an impact yet, neither has Travis Birt. Hobart will be hoping that the top-order comes to the party in the all-important game and make the Aussie presence felt.
In the bowling department, Hobart have the experienced campaigners, Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger, who have spearheaded the pace attack well. Ben Laughlin and Joe Mennie too have done a good job, keeping things tight at their end and not letting the opposition batsmen get away. Xavier Doherty has been delivering on a consistent basis and Hobart will be counting on the left-arm spinner to do well again. The Australian side have not utilised the bowling services of Malik much, but they can always turn to the reliable Pakistani all-rounder when things do not quite go their way.
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