Lynn and Gambhir set a new record for the highest opening partnership in IPL history

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Chris Lynn and captain Gautam Gambhir amassed the highest opening partnership in Indian Premier League (IPL) history to lead the Kolkata Knight Riders to a ten-wicket win over the Gujarat Lions.

Opting to bowl first, the Knight Riders got rid of Jason Roy early on, but the Lions fought back through a 50-run stand between Brendon McCullum and skipper Suresh Raina.

McCullum ended up being trapped lbw off the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav for 35, while Aaron Finch, who scored 15, was Kuldeep’s second victim.

Despite the double blow, Raina and Dinesh Karthik put together an 87-run partnership before Karthik was dismissed by Trent Boult for 47.

Raina went on to make 68 not out, which came off 51 balls and included seven boundaries, as the Lions finished on 183/4 off their 20 overs.

Raina scored his 29th IPL fifty

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Kuldeep was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Boult and Piyush Chawla chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Chasing 184 to win, Lynn and Gambhir finishing things for the Knight Riders single-handedly as they amassed a 184-run partnership.

As a result, they eclipsed the previous record for the highest opening stand of 167 between Chris Gayle and Tillakaratne Dilshan, who achieved the feat while representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their match against the now defunct Pune Warriors in the 2013 edition of the IPL.

The Lions did everything in their power to halt the duo’s incredible stand, but it was to no avail.

In the end, Lynn finished unbeaten on 93, which came off 41 balls and included six boundaries and eight sixes, while Gambhir remained undefeated on 76 off 48 deliveries, which included 12 boundaries.

Lynn was named Man of the Match.