23 April,2021 06:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure
Eoin Morgan
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have managed only a solitary win from their four IPL-14 games and skipper Eoin Morgan has contributed just 45 runs in total. The captain made seven runs in as many balls in KKR's 18-run defeat to Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. Morgan had scored just two runs in KKR's first match where they beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 10 runs.
Then, in the 10-run defeat to Mumbai Indians, he contributed only seven runs. And in their third match, which they lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore by 38 runs, Morgan made 29.
However, the Englishman is not worried about his form and instead insisted that it's only a matter of time before he will be among the runs. "It's all about the process. The way I'm going about things at the moment is extremely positive. I have been here a long time now and I've been practising well and it's just a matter of time before something comes together," Morgan said at the post-match virtual press conference after on Wednesday night.
Faf du Plessis' unbeaten 95 in just 60 balls (9x4, 4x6) and a 42-ball 64 (6x4, 4x6) from fellow opener Ruturaj Gaikwad saw CSK post a whopping 220-3 in the allotted 20 overs.
In reply, KKR lost its top five batsmen for just 31 runs in the powerplay, thanks to pacer Deepak Chahar's (4-29) fiery bowling. Morgan was among those who fell to Chahar's swing, edging one to CSK wicketkeeper MS Dhoni.
However, Pat Cummins (unbeaten 66 in 34 balls, 4x4,6x6), Andre Russell (54 in 22, 3x4, 6x6) and Dinesh Karthik (40 in 24, 4x4, 2x6) brought the game so close KKR were bowled out in the last over (19.1 overs) for 202.
Morgan said he was proud of his team's fightback. "We have to be proud of getting so close, and actually putting ourselves in a winning position. Cummins towards the end played beautifully. It really did flip things right in our favour, but obviously, having made those five mistakes [wickets] earlier did cost us," added Morgan.
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Eoin Morgan has been fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during their IPL match against CSK at the Wankhede on Wednesday. "As it was his team's first offence of the season under the IPL's Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, Morgan was fined Rs 12 lakh," said the IPL.
