Knight Riders bowlers miss the smart card

During the mini-break between the innings, Wasim Akram, Kolkata Knight Riders' bowling coach, walked up to each of his bowlers to ascertain if they were aware of their bowling plans. He spent a few minutes discussing, understanding, and confirming the lengths Australian quick Patrick Cummings was going to bowl, and the fields he had in mind.

Then, Umesh Yadav sought Akram for a minute and the former Pakistan fast bowler put an arm around the Indian to share his insights. Akram heard what West Indies allrounder Andre Russell had planned and nodded in agreement at what he was told.

Yet, within the next 20 minutes, Akram would have held his head concerned the way his bowlers had forgotten the well laid out plans. First it was Yadav, who offered width, length and hit-me balls for Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle to recover from a slow start in the first over where Cummings gave just four runs. But the Australian then slipped in an easy full toss off the first ball off his second over and saw Kohli hit another six in the same over as he attempted a slower ball.

Thirty-two runs came in those two overs and it gave Gayle the confidence to launch himself into Brad Hogg. He was out four balls later, but Royal Challengers Bangalore had already reached the fifty-mark in four overs. Despite losing their top order soon thereafter, Royal Challengers eventually finished victors only because of the early momentum that was established.

In a match reduced to 10 overs owing to the preceding heavy downpour, the key for the fast bowlers was to mix up their pace intelligently and bowl the right lengths. The ideal menu was: fast and full married to slow balls and slower ball bouncers.

Every bowler who did not follow that maxim paid a price. Take the ever-aggressive Varun Aaron. Royal Challengers' strike bowler had already gone for 12 runs in his first over. Returning for his final over, Aaron banged it short the very first ball. Robin Uthappa decided to step out and pull. Aaron was unlucky after his captain Kohli spilled the catch on the run at wide long on. But the next ball, Aaron pitched it short once again on the off stump. It was pacy, making it easy for Russell, who had already jumped out of his crease to pull for his first six.

The next two balls, Aaron finally delivered the slower ones, both of which Russell wildly swung at and missed badly. But could Aaron keep his cool? The final two deliveries were quick, allowing Russell to connect easily and take 10 runs. Holding his head mid-pitch, Aaron stared in disbelief - except no one would sympathise with him.

The man who did set the right example was Mitchell Starc. Although he delivered few wides due the wetness of the ball, Starc pitched it in the blockhole or fuller and wide of the off stump with little or no margin for error in his two overs.

Such pinpoint accuracy was missing for most part from the Knight Riders' defense, too, till Russell was given the ball with three overs to go. Royal Challengers needed 33 runs with Kohli going fluently and Mandeep Singh starting off in dominant fashion on 20 from 10 balls.

Facing the first ball from Russell, Kohli moved a step back into his crease. Kohli probably guessed that Russell would cramp him for space with a yorker. Russell, though, pulled back his length a few inches while rolling his fingers on the ball to slow it down. Kohli went to clear the onside, failed to time it and walked out by letting out a loud shriek and hitting his pads at his error.

For the rest of the over Russell pitched the short and slower deliveries making it difficult for the batsmen to score off him and then finished the over with a perfect yorker to Davie Wiese. Only seven runs came off that over and Knight Riders looked clear favourites.

Royal Challengers required 12 runs from the final over, to be delivered by Russell. He had fine leg in. The square leg was pushed back, as was third man. The point and cover fielders were on the edge of the circle. Facing him was Mandeep. Coincidentally, Royal Challengers' bowling coach Allan Donald had set similar fields in an extended solo session of throw-downs late Friday afternoon to the Kings XI batsmen. With enough pace behind Donald's deliveries, Mandeep just moved outside to clear the off-side ring.

Having varied the pace smartly in his previous over, Russell now just had to keep Mandeep guessing. Yet, in a moment of distraction, Russell lost his focus to deliver a faster ball on back of length. Mandeep quickly moved outside the line to loft Russell over deep point confidently for a six. And when Russell banged the next delivery hard and short, Mandeep pulled it handsomely to seal the victory with a second straight six. Donald clapped his hands gleefully at the plan well executed