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Ranchi: Off-spinner Sunil Narine returned with a four-wicket haul as Kolkata Knight Riders used the slow conditions extremely well to halt Royal Challengers Bangalore to a modest 115 for nine in their IPL match, here on Sunday.
Stroke-making was difficult on a slow wicket at the JSCA stadium and a slow outfield made things even worse for the batsmen as the IPL caravan moved to a new city.
Such was the domination of the bowlers that Bangalore batsmen could hit only five fours and two sixes, and could put on board their lowest total of the season.
One of the most dangerous batsman, Chris Gayle also found the going tough and in his 36-ball stay, he could manage to hit just one four and a six in his sedate 33-run knock before being stumped off Narine's bowling.
AB de Villiers was the next best scorer with a 22-ball 28. Attempting a reverse sweep off Laxmipathy Balaji, immediately after hitting the paceman for a six in the 16th over, the South African found a faint edge and Manvinder Bisla took a well-judged catch behind the wickets.
Narine was the highest wicket-taker with figures of 4-0-22-4, while Jacques Kallis was the most economical bowler as he conceded just 17 runs.
Apart form key batsman Gayle, Narine accounted for the wickets Saurabh Tiwary (1), Ravi Rampaul (0) and Abhimanyu Mithun (2).
KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir began with spinner Sachitra Senanayake and Balaji and the two bowlers provided a superb start by giving away just 16 runs in the first five overs.
Senanayake dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara in the fifth over and Gayle was also subdued.
