17 May, 2008
Indians crush Knight Riders

The Kolkatta Knight Riders were condemned to the lowest total in the Indian Premier League as the Mumbai Indians cruised to an eight-wicket win.

Shaun Pollock laid the early groundwork for Mumbai with three wickets, while there were two apiece for Dwayne Bravo, Rohan Raje and Dominic Thornely as the Knight Riders were bowled out for just 67.

Sanath Jayasuriya then took control of the chase, firing 48 off 17 balls to lead Mumbai to victory with 14 and a half overs remaining.

The Knight Riders were on the back foot from the off.

Salman Butt (13 from 13) attempted to turn Pollock to leg and edged to Tendulkar at slip and Aakash Chopra was run out next ball after some miscommunication with Sourav Ganguly.

Pollock grabbed his second as David Hussey edged through to Yogesh Takawale and made it three courtesy of a slip catch from Robin Uthappa to remove Mohammad Hafeez.

Dwayne Bravo kept it tight at the other end and he claimed the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha thanks to another Tendulkar catch, his second of four.

Rohan Raje bowled Laxmi Shukla and any hopes of a late surge for Kolkata disappeared when Takawale, standing up to the bowling of Dominic Thornely, held a good juggling catch to remove Sourav Ganguly (15 from 20) and the tail duly capitulated.

In reply, Shoaib Akhtar removed Tendulkar early on, but Ishant's first over went for 15 and the result was never in doubt.

Sanath Jayasuriya was the aggressor in chief, plundering both bowlers for a succession of boundaries and claiming a pair of leg-side sixes off Shoaib, one a nonchalant flick and the other a towering pull shot.

Robin Uthappa fell for 10 from eight when he miscued Ishant straight to Ganguly attempting to keep pace his partner.

But Jayasuriya continued undeterred and moved to within two runs of both his fifty and Mumbai's victory with a six off Ishant.

The next delivery went to the boundary to end the game, but the former Sri Lanka skipper was denied his half-century as leg byes were signalled.

Mumbai are fourth in the table with 10 points from nine games, two places above but level on points with their opponents, who have played one game more.