The Kolkata Knight Riders contrived to lose a game that was all but won when the last over began. The Deccan Chargers needed 21 from 6 balls, bowled by Mashrafe Mortaza, and Rohit Sharma played a scarcely believable hand.
Utter confusion reigned off the first ball as the square-leg umpire declared a no-ball as insufficient fielders were in the circle. This was hit for four. Just two off the next two balls and the Chargers needed 14 from 4 balls. A full-toss was swung for six over square-leg, the nervous Mortaza bowled a wide and Rohit was looking at 7 from 3. A scampered brace off the fifth ball, a superb extra-cover drive for four and one needed off the last ball. With the field up Mortaza bowled a bouncer and Rohit swung it for six.
The irony was that the Kolkata team had overcome an iffy start to post a strong 160 for 5. Brendon McCullum was trying to hit his way out of disappointment and Sourav Ganguly was equally desperate but unlike the captain, he didn't get out. His repeated and failed attempts to force the issue affected his team's scoring rate and the target would have been a moderate one if not for David Hussey who made a 17-ball 43.
The Chargers, though, had too much firepower, and KKR found a new way to lose a game that had been won.
{{/usCountry}}The Chargers, though, had too much firepower, and KKR found a new way to lose a game that had been won.
{{/usCountry}}Kolkata Knight Riders: B McCullum c Suman b Harris 20 (18b, 1x4, 1x6), S Ganguly c Harris b Sharma 33 (41b, 3x4), B Hodge c Harmeet Singh b Harris 48 (41b, 5x4), D Hussey run out (Gilchrist) 43 (17b, 2x4, 4x6), W Saha c Singh b Symonds 7 (3b, 1x6), M Mortaza not out 2 (2b), A Agarkar not out 0 (0b);
Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 2, nb 2) 7 ;
Total (5 wkts; 20 overs) 160;
Fall of wkts: 1-27, 2-85, 3-117, 4-152, 5-158;
Bowling: Harris 4-0-20-2, RP Singh 3.1-0-30-0 (2nb, 2w), Symonds 4-0-28-1,Harmeet Singh 3.5-0 –40-0, P Ojha 3-0-24-0, Sharma 2-0-15-1.
Deccan Chargers: A Gilchrist c sub (LR Shukla) b Hodge 43 (31b, 5x4, 2x6), H Gibbs c Hussey b Kartik 28 (34b, 3x4, 0x6), T Suman run out 31 (24b, 3x4, 1x6), A Symonds run out 18 (13b, 1x6), R Sharma not out 32 (13b, 3x4, 2x6), V Rao not out 7 (7b);
Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-2, nb-2) 7;
Total (for 4 wkts; 20 overs) 166;
Fall of wkts: 1-68, 2-85, 3-116, 4-128;
Bowling: I Sharma 4-0-23-0, Mortaza 4-0-58-0, M Kartik 4-0-12-1, B Hodge 3-0-23-1, A Agarkar 4-0-41-0, D Hussey 1-0-6-0.