Last-ball six helps Super Kings stun Knight Riders at Eden Gardens
In yet another IPL 2012 game that went down to the wire, Dwayne Bravo clinched a win for the Chennai Super Kings by sending the ball soaring over the fence off the last ball at the Eden Gardens. After beating the Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets CSK have strengthened their chances of making it into playoffs.
After a 99-run opening stand between Gautam Gambhir (62) and Brendon McCullum,
the hosts lost wickets in quick succession once the latter got out.
McCullum (37) was run out while attempting a second run. With this
wicket, the Super Kings got their foot in the door and then wedged it
open. A run later, the KKR skipper was castled by Shadab Jakati. In his next over, the left-arm spinner claimed the key wicket of Jacques Kallis (4).
KKR
then continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. The big-hitting
Yusuf Pathan (11), who has yet to big score this season, was caught at
long on by Dwayne Bravo while attempting to clear the fence off R
Ashwin. In the following over, Manoj Tiwary (12) also hit Ravindra
Jadeja straight to Bravo at long-on. From 99 for no loss, KKR were
reduced to 128 for five.
Debabrata Das,
who had replaced Pathan at the crease, remained unbeaten on 19 and
added 28 runs for the fifth wicket with LR Shulka (9), until the latter
was sent back by Ben Hilfenhaus in the last over. KKR ended up with 158
for six in their 20 overs.
Defending a modest total, the Knight
Riders needed early wickets, but Michael Hussey (56) and Murali Vijay
(36) put together a 97-run opening stand. After being brought into the
attack, Sunil Narine gave KKR a much-needed breakthrough in the tenth
over. The off-spinner claimed both the openers in his second over.
Southpaw Suresh Raina, who replaced Hussey, was by joined by the in-form
Faf du Plessis at the crease. The duo looked to build on the momentum
that the openers had built, but Raina (8) was run out trying to sneak a
run.
This brought in CSK skipper MS Dhoni, who is known for his
ability to finish games. However, after adding 13 runs to the chase, du
Plessis was sent back by Tiwary. With 31 required off 17, Bravo then
joined Dhoni in the middle. The CSK skipper however decided to take
matters in his own hands and slammed Marchant de Lange for two fours and
a six in the penultimate over.
With 18 runs coming off the 19th
over, CSK required nine off the last one. Rajat Bhatia, came in to bowl
as the match headed to a tight finish. The experienced all-rounder gave
a single off the first ball and then, dismantled Dhoni’s woodwork.
Ravindra Jadeja (3*) then scampered for two runs and took a single off
the next delivery. He then followed it up with a dot ball to Bravo
(11*). With five required off the last ball, the West Indian hit a six
to seal the game.
Toss: Chennai Super Kings, who chose to field
Man of the Match: Michael Hussey
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Umpires: Johan Cloete , Simon Taufel , S Ravi , and Amardeep Pathania
Referee: Raju Mukherjee
- Kolkata Knight Riders innings
- Powerplay - 50 runs, 0 wickets
- KKR: 50 runs in 5.3 overs
- 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 33 balls (Gautam Gambhir 36, Brendon McCullum 13)
- Gautam Gambhir: 50 off 31 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes)
- KKR: 100 runs in 11.5 overs
- KKR: 150 runs in 19.1 overs
- Innings Break: KKR - 158/6 in 20.0 overs
- Chennai Super Kings innings
- Powerplay - 51 runs, 0 wickets
- CSK: 50 runs in 4.6 overs
- 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 35 balls (Michael Hussey 24, Murali Vijay 26)
- Michael Hussey: 50 off 35 balls (3 fours, 4 sixes)
- CSK: 100 runs in 11.3 overs
- CSK: 150 runs in 18.6 overs
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Man-of-the-Match: Michael Hussey for his crucial 39-ball 56 at the top of the CSK innings |
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