Debutant Kochi Tuskers Kerala pulled off another memorable victory — third in a row — rudely bringing down Kolkata Knight Riders with a six-run victory in the IPL-IV at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday.
Needing 133 for victory, Knight Riders failed to pace the innings on a slow pitch to be all out for 126 for nine in 20 overs to lose its second game in five matches.
Remarkable captaincy
It is remarkable the way Mahela Jayawardene has led the side in the last three matches. Desperate after two early losses, the Sri Lankan led from the front to turn around the fortunes of a side that is beginning to look menacing.
Jayawardene's astute captaincy, his field placing and bowling changes enabled Tuskers choke the Knights steadily before strangulating it to death. But for Manoj Tiwary, none of the KKR batsmen had the stomach for a fight.
Knight Riders did not have a great start. The home side lost two big wickets that of Jacques Kallis (6) and captain Gautam Gambhir (3).
Kallis was trapped by Vinay Kumar with a bouncer which the South African failed to keep down and was snapped up by Jadhav. Gambhir was bowled neck and crop by R.P. Singh with a beauty of a yorker.
When Manvinder Bisla missed a big hit off Jadeja and was bowled, KKR slumped to three for 37 in six overs and was in deep trouble.
Manoj Tiwary and Eoin Morgan played sensibly to add 36 runs for the fourth wicket with the Bengal captain dominating the partnership.
Morgan (10) was run out to a brilliant throw by Jayawardene to leave KKR at 73 for four and soon it was 86 for five in 15 overs when Shakib Al Hasan was bowled by a clever delivery from R.P. Singh.
Yusuf Pathan hobbled in and out scoring eight runs, including a six. A huge heave off Powar went to Muttiah Muralitharan at short third-man.
Desperate measures
With the asking rate mounting, Tiwary was desperate to get quick runs and tried to step out to Ravindra Jadeja who intelligently sent the ball wide on the leg side for Parthiv Patel to effect a smart stumping.
Tiwary's superb 46 runs came off 51 balls with two fours and as many sixes.
On winning the toss, Gambhir asked Tuskers to bat first on a slow pitch.
Strong start
Brendon McCullum and Jayawardene began strongly with some bold shots to put on the team's best partnership of 49 runs for the first wicket.
If the Kiwi was in a punishing mood, the Lankan was confidence personified placing his shots well. When it looked as if the duo would steal the show, came a lovely ball from Shakib Al Hasan.
McCullum tried to play a big shot and was snapped up by Eoin Morgan at point for 23, scored with the aid of two fours and a six.
Patel joined his captain and had the mortification of seeing his senior partner depart for a 25-run cameo that had five delectable boundaries. By the 10th over Tuskers had lost three top-order batsmen for eight runs with Yusuf Pathan scalping Jayawardene and Brad Hodge (2).
After Patel (9) fell leg before to Pathan, young Jadeja had other ideas as he waded into the Knights' bowling in the company of Kedar Jadhav.
Fifteen runs were scored off Balaji's over (team's 13th) and the next over produced 11 runs. The fifth wicket added 35 runs with Jadeja dominating the batting.
When Jadhav fell bowled by Shakib for 12, Tuskers had reached 100 in 15 overs. To the addition of only five runs, Jadeja fell in trying to hit Lee and was taken well at deep mid-on by Pathan for a terrific 29 off 18 balls with one four and three sixes.
In the process, Pathan injured his knee and hobbled off the field.
Shakib and Pathan were the pick of the KKR bowlers, picking up three wickets apiece.
Lee went for 33 runs in four overs and Balaji and Iqbal Abdulla went for 23 runs each in four overs.
Scores:
Kochi Tuskers Kerala: B. McCullum c Morgan b Shakib 23 (19b, 2x4, 1x6), M. Jayawardene lbw b Yusuf 25 (27b, 5x4), Parthiv lbw b Yusuf 9 (11b, 1x4), B. Hodge b Yusuf 2 (8b), R. Jadeja c Yusuf b Lee 29 (18b, 1x4, 3x6), K. Jadhav b Shakib 12 (11b, 1x4), R. Gomez (not out) 10 (10b, 1x6), R. Vinay Kumar b Shakib 11 (10b, 1x4), R. Powar (not out) 3 (6b), Extras (b-1, lb-4, w-3): 8, Total (for seven wkts. in 20 overs): 132.
Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-51, 3-55, 4-65, 5-100, 6-105, 7-127.
Kolkata Knight Riders bowling: Lee 4-0-33-1, Balaji 4-0-23-0, Abdulla 4-0-23-0, Shakib 4-0-28-3, Yusuf 4-1-20-3.
Kolkata Knight Riders: M. Bisla b Jadeja 16 (14b, 2x4), J. Kallis c Jadhav b Vinay Kumar 6 (9b), G. Gambhir b R.P. Singh 3 (5b), M. Tiwary st. Parthiv b Jadeja 46 (51b, 2x4, 2x6), E. Morgan (run out) 10 (12b, 1x4), Shakib b R.P. Singh 2 (5b), Yusuf c Muralitharan b Powar 8 (3b, 1x6), R. Bhatia (run out) 10 (8b, 1x4), B. Lee c Jadhav b Muralitharan 1 (3b), I. Abdulla (not out) 12 (9b, 1x4), L. Balaji (not out) 1 (1b), Extras (b-4, lb-4, w-3): 11, Total (for nine wkts. in 20 overs): 126.
Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-27, 3-37, 4-73, 5-86, 6-97, 7-101, 8-105, 9-125.
Kochi Tuskers bowling: R.P. Singh 4-0-25-2, Vinay Kumar 4-0-21-1, Jadeja 4-0-25-2, Powar 4-0-29-1, Muralitharan 4-0-18-1.
Man-of-the-Match: M. Jayawardene (KTK).
