IPL: Kochi edge past Kolkata in pulsating finish at Eden Gardens
Kochi Tuskers 132/ 7 20 overs Kolkata http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Knight-c71599 Riders 126/9 20 overs
The fans at Eden Gardens were left disappointed as their team went down by a mere 6 runs to Kochi Tuskers.
Batting first the Tuskers themselves struggled to get going on a sluggish wicket, the batsmen found the conditions tough to master and kept losing their wickets in an attempt of upping the tempo.
The opening pair of Mahela Jayawardene and Brendon McCullum took the team to 49 inside the first seven overs, the partnership was dislodged by the exit of McCullum, who was dismissed by the highly impressive Shakib Al http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990.
However, Jayawardene, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Parthiv-Patel-c2159, all fell in quick succession to leave their team in a spot of bother at 65/4.
The innings was resurrected at this stage by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ravindra-c84236 Jadeja, who ensured that his team goes past the 120 run mark through a breezy effort. He scored 29 runs with the help of 3 sixes and a single four.
The late order batsmen helped the new comers post a decent total of 132/7, which was at best a fighting total, Shakib and Yusuf Pathan took 3 wickets each for the hosts.
The star studded Kolkata batting line up was in for a shock in a seemingly straight forward run chase.
By the time they scored past the 100 run mark, the Kolkatans had lost 6 top order batsmen, with the total at 101. They lost their mainstay Yusuf Pathan, who was the one they were relying on against a mounting run rate.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Manoj-Tiwary-c1890 with 46 was the top run getter for the hosts. The tail led by Aussie pace man, Brett Lee, hung in till the very end in an effort of pulling off an improbable win.
However, it was Kochi’s night, as the hosts ended their quota of overs at 120/9 falling short by a margin of 6 runs.
The new comers Kochi were ecstatic after their win. Kolkata on the other hand was left ruing a straight forward opportunity of overhauling a paltry target.
The man of the match award was won by Jayawardene more for his astute captaincy and 25 runs he contributed to his team’s total.
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