4 May, 2008
Kumble keeps his cool

Bangalore Royal Challengers produced a disciplined bowling display at the death to claim a three-run win over Deccan Chargers and move off the foot of the IPL table on Saturday.

The Royal Challengers claimed four wickets for just five runs in the space of nine balls to limit their opponents to 6-153 and record only their second win in IPL.

VVS Laxman and Rohit Sharma shared a stand of 96 - Sharma becoming the highest run-scorer in the IPL with 235 - but it was not enough as the Royal Challengers' total of 8-156 proved sufficient.

Praveen Kumar recorded figures of 3-23 and Zaheer Khan 2-24 before Sanjay Bangar hit two sixes off the final over from Anil Kumble to take the clash down to the final ball. But Kumble held his nerve to secure victory.

The Royal Challengers certainly had their bowling attack to thank for victory after earlier struggling to get the better of the Deccan spinners.

Wassim Jaffer and Virat Kohli shared a second-wicket partnership of 72 after Bharat Chipli (10) went early, but found it hard to cope with the loss of Jaffer for 44.

Jacques Kallis (six) and Kohli (38) were then deceived by the spin of Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh respectively in the space of four balls.

Misbah-ul-Haq (three) and Mark Boucher (16) also went cheaply, the former falling victim to a Shahid Afridi quicker delivery and Boucher slicing on to his stumps.

Rahul Dravid though offered some resistance towards the end of the innings, making Scott Styris pay for dropping him on 12 by cracking two maximums from the New Zealander's last over on his way to a rapid 26.

The Chargers started the run chase at a leisurely pace and Adam Gilchrist (10) was well caught by Jaffer right on the boundary rope as he looked to up the tempo.

Gibbs pulled a short delivery for four to get off the mark, but that was as good as it got for the South African before he was on his way back to the pavilion for six.

Sharma though continued his impressive form after a brief delay due to floodlight failure.

He clipped an effortless six off his pads and followed that shot up with two quickfire fours, one punched through square leg and the second cut past point, while Laxman played the spin of Kumble expertly.

But Sharma eventually holed out for 57 and Laxmen fell lbw to Kumar for 52 as the Royal Challengers' accurate and ecomonical bowling proved decisive.



4 May, 2008
Marsh makes his mark

Kings XI Punjab recorded a much-needed victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday, winning by nine runs after an early Kolkata collapse.

Having made 6-178 off their 20 overs, Punjab soon began dismantling the Kolkata batting order.

Sourav Ganguly went for just five, caught at third man off Sreesanth, and Mohammed Hafeez quickly followed for 13 when he was bowled by Irfan Pathan.

When Hodge was trapped lbw for just one, Kolkata was floundering at 3-25 and it got worse as Debabrata Das fell victim to Sreesanth for five.

Kolkata were scratching out runs, mainly in singles, but it was clear by the mid-point of their innings that the required run rate - hovering around 18 - was out of reach.

David Hussey (71) and Saha (59no) restored some pride with a sixth-wicket partnership of 104, but it was too little too late.

Punjab set themselves up for victory with a scrappy innings.

Shaun Marsh was the high scorer with 40, but it was the quick-hitting of his team-mates that was the secret to Punjab's success.

James Hopes smashed four fours from the first 11 balls his faced on his return, but was caught by Brad Hodge from the 12th.

Kumar Sangakkara came in but was soon struggling after swinging awkwardly at a delivery, and he retired hurt in the sixth over.

Yuvraj Singh followed with an explosive but brief appearance, hitting 14 off three balls before he was stumped off the next delivery for 17.

Wicketkeeper Prasanta Saha claimed another victim, stumping Marsh, soon after.

Ganguly saved Umar Gul for the later stages and got quick reward as he got the wicket of Mahela Jayawardene, out for 10 off Gul's second delivery. The paceman surrendered only one run from an excellent first over.

After receiving treatment, Sangakkara re-emerged but saw his partner Karan Goel run out for six.

Sangakkara was eventually bowled by Gul, but ended a dogged effort with a respectable 28.

Piyush Chawla came into swing the bat with free abandon, and he accounted for 20 of the 21 runs Punjab scored off the final over, reaching his total of 21 off just seven balls.