 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Mumbai Indians win toss
With no chance of qualifying for the semis, Kolkata Knight Riders were playing for pride against Mumbai Indians at home, the Eden Gardens, on Monday.
The toss didn't go Kolkata's way as Mumbai's stand-in captain Dwayne Bravo called right and elected to bat first. Mumbai Indians eventually put up 133 for 8 in their stipulated 20 overs.
Mumbai rested as many as six players, including captain Sachin Tendulkar, for the match.
Bond strikes twice
Kolkata began well, as Shane Bond struck in the first over itself. The New Zealander struck with his fifth delivery, having Aditya Tare (1) caught by Murali Kartik in front of square.
He returned to take another wicket in his second over, inducing an edge of Shikar Dhawan's (10) blade, and Wridhiman Saha made no mistake behind the stumps.
The wicket was really slow and difficult for the ball to meet the sweet spot.
Duminy, Tiwary steady the ship
But JP Duminy (19) and Saurabh Tiwary (46) stuck it out in the middle, finding the odd boundary.
Duminy eased the pressure with a boundary each off Jaidev Undakat and Sourav Ganguly, and Tiwary joined the party with a massive six over deep midwicket off Ganguly.
As the field restrictions eased, Mumbai made 42 for two, and when the first strategic time out was taken (after nine overs) they had moved on to 66 for two.
Duminy and Tiwary put on 63 runs for the third wicket, but it took them 10 overs to do it.
Rayudu's late surge gives MI respectable total
Later, Unadkat cleaned up Duminy with a quicker one in the 13th over. In the next over, Murali Karthik had Tiwary caught behind and Mumbai Indians were reeling at 81 for 4 after the 14th over.
Dwayne Bravo lasted just nine balls before Kartik had him stumped. Then R Satish and Ambati Rayudu decided to get things going.
Ambati Rayudu (27) helped himself to successive hits to the fence in the 17th over by Unadkat. Sathish perished in the 18th over, hitting a Manoj Tiwary delivery straight to Kartik at long-on.
Rayudu hit a six over long-off in the final ball of the same over.
Stuart Binny (8) was caught by Ganguly at midwicket in Dinda's final over. But Rayudu ensured his side's total had a semblance of respectability before being run-out off the final ball.
Kolkata start strongly
Kolkata Knight Riders were off to a good start and stayed on course for a win over Mumbai Indians.
After eight overs, the home side was comfortably placed at 60 for no loss. Captain Ganguly (42) ensured KKR a fine start with a massive six over midwicket off Ali Murtaza's third ball.
He hit a boundary over extra cover in Fernando's second over and followed it up with a massive six over mid-off.
The captain had a reprieve when McLaren put him down at extra cover off Dwayne Bravo.
Ganguly was later dismissed in the 14th over, caught by Bravo off the bowling of R Satish.
McCullum, Hussey take KKR to victory
Brendon McCullum (57) was also on song and joined the party with a boundary each of Dilhara Fernando and Ryan McLaren.
McCullum hit a boundary each of McLaren and Stuart Binny to keep the scoring rate in control. He made a good half century off 52 deliveries that was inclusive of 7 boundaries.
David Hussey (20) joined McCullum in the middle after the dismissal of Ganguly. They played well together take Kolkata Knight Riders past the target.
McCullum hit the winning runs to hand the Knight Riders their biggest win -- by nine wickets -- in the IPL.