Uthappa determined to be KKR's pillar

Kolkata Knight Riders opener Robin Uthappa has said he wants to be a "pillar" for his team and continue closing out games, like he did against Chennai Super Kings at Eden Gardens. Chasing 166, KKR had slipped to 57 for 3 in the tenth over, but Uthappa stayed the course and was unbeaten on 80 off 58 balls as Andre Russell's 55 of 32 balls sealed a seven-wicket win with a ball to spare.

"I am happy with the way I finished the game today," Uthappa told iplt20.com. "That is my job - to be able to hold one end up for my team, be that pillar for my side and make sure I am there right till the end when you finish games. When you finish the game as an opening batsman it is pleasing to know that you have worked your way through your skills throughout the innings."

Uthappa's half-cenury was the first time he had passed 40 in this season of the IPL, despite getting into double figures in his last five innings. He had fallen in the thirties three times.

"I have just come back from the Ranji Trophy, so you don't set yourself up for T20 immediately after that," Uthappa said. "We did not play any practice games, so it took a little time to get off the blocks. I had to make a little tweaks to my technique as well. I was hitting the ball well since the first game but I wasn't really converting those starts. That began to pinch me a little bit, especially when I wasn't able to convert my flying start in the previous game into a big one. I do set some high standards for myself and I do believe I can win matches for my team."

Uthappa had blazed to 39 off 17 balls when he was dismissed in Chennai, a game KKR eventually lost by two runs even though they were chasing only 135. "That loss really hurt us. I thought in that game we did a lot of things right," he said. "We realise that this season we haven't been closing games as we should have been. We weren't closing games to the standards that we had set for ourselves and I am really glad that we were able to do that today. To do it in a clinical fashion against an extremely strong side like Chennai Super Kings is satisfying."

Another key performer in KKR's victory was 44-year old chinaman bowler Brad Hogg, who took 4 for 29 in four overs to slow down CSK's aggressive start. CSK coach Stephen Fleming credited Hogg for KKR's turnaround. "The last two games he's been outstanding. He's come from the cold somewhat and delivered two great performances. He turned the game to KKR's favour when it was going away from them. He was certainly a main player for them today."

Hogg said he considered himself fortunate to be part of the IPL. "I am enjoying every moment of it. And it is great to see myself still being able to play cricket. I am just very fortunate to be at this stage," he said. "I wish I hadn't taken the game so seriously when I was younger. I wish I was a bit more relaxed when I was playing for my country. It is pretty easy to go out there and puff your chest out and think you have to put on a persona. To be able to sit back, relax and enjoy it and know that those moments could end at any stage is totally a different and good feeling.

"The only message I have got for the youngsters is 'make sure you respect the game and enjoy every opportunity when you get out there'. There is going to be some heated moments out there but don't take it too seriously. If you have that heated moment, make sure you rectify the situation when you walk off that boundary line and become mates again."