Kochi Tuskers Kerala used slow bowlers to throttle free-stroking Pune Warriors batsmen. Yuvraj Singh fell for the cut against Brad Hodge, Robin Uthappa taunted Muttiah Muralitharan with a reverse hit and perished. Chasing 149 to win, it was left to little-known Mohnish Mishra (37 not out, 21b) to deal the killer blows as Pune Warriors sneaked home to a four-wicket win.
Man-of-the-Match Mishra lashed two sixes and one four in Muralitharan's final over to emerge top-scorer as the home team overcame anxious moments to amass 151 for six in 18.5 overs.
Smith, injured while fielding, came out to open with a runner and swung at every ball around the off-stump. Jesse Ryder also flexed his arms, forcing Jayawardene to turn to Muralitharan.
Sreesanth made way for Vinay Kumar, a lucky move as Ryder smashed a wide delivery straight back for the latter to juggle the ball five times in follow-through before completing the catch.
Pune stayed on course in the run chase, racing to 50 off 41 balls and Smith's dismissal by Jadeja appeared a momentary hiccup, Mithun Manhas holed out to Hodge three overs later.
Hodge got the vital breakthrough, forcing Yuvraj to play against the turn and snick behind. Uthappa took on the task of guiding the chase, then walked back frustrated at himself for a moment of over-confidence.
Kochi had earlier slipped into trouble off the first ball with opener Brendon McCullum lured into a drive by an Alfonso Thomas teaser delivery which pitched outside the off-stump and moved away.
Yuvraj's choice of Parnell in place of Thomas produced instant results, this time Laxman edged one onto the stumps off an inside edge. The madness seemed to effect Jayawardene too, the Kochi captain launched into a drive and was unable to account for movement.
At 24 for four in fine overs, Kochi's decision to bat seemed to have misfired, when Parthiv flashed at a Parnell teaser outside the off-stump and perished at slip.
The South African fast bowler made away for spin after a stunning 2-0-4-3 first spell. Jadeja walked into a crisis and got cracking straightaway against a double dose of spin.
Kochi had moved out of the danger zone at 100 off 86 balls, the fifth-wicket stand between Jadeja and Hodge rattling up runs against the slow bowlers.
The momentum swung Pune Warriors' way following the dismissals of Hodge (39, 36b, 2x4, 2x6) and Jadeja (47, 33b, 3x4, 3x6).
