Kochi Tuskers trashes Kolkata Knight Riders like Bollywood climax

Kochi Tuskers Kerala 132 for 7 (Jadeja 29, Jayawardene 25, Yusuf 3-20, Shakib 3-28) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 126 for 9 (M Tiwary 46, RP 2-25, Jadeja 2-25) by six runs
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Kochi Tuskers Kerala won a battle of attrition against Kolkata Knight Riders on a slow Eden Gardens pitch that aided the spinners, defending a modest total by six runs, their third win on the trot and one that took them to third position on the points table. The wicket was expected to have played better than the low-and-slow one turned out for the game against Rajasthan Royals. It did not play as low, but was as slow, making it difficult for batsmen and a delight for the spinners.

After Yusuf Pathan and Shakib Al Hasan had taken six wickets for 48 runs between them to restrict Kochi to 132, Kolkata's powerful batting line-up would have fancied the modest chase. But Kochi had three spinners themselves, in Muttiah Muralitharan, Ramesh Powar and Ravindra Jadeja. The trio did not take as many wickets as the Kolkata spinners had, but stifled the runs nevertheless as the pressure got to the Kolkata batsmen.

Ironically, in a game dominated by spin, what hurt Kolkata in the end was that they lost wickets to the fast bowlers at the start, and Kochi did not. The first three overs from the Kolkata fast bowlers had gone for 26 without any wicket, the first four from the Kochi seamers went for only 20, and produced two big wickets, that of Jacques Kallis and Gautam Gambhir.

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20 overs Kochi Tuskers Kerala 132 for 7 (Jadeja 29, Jayawardene 25, Yusuf 3-20, Shakib 3-28) v Kolkata Knight Riders

	Yusuf Pathan took three wickets including those of Mahela Jayawardene and Brad Hodge © AFP Enlarge

Yusuf Pathan showcased his skills with the ball as Kolkata Knight Riders' spinners took advantage of a slow pitch to restrict Kochi Tuskers Kerala to 132 at Eden Gardens. Yusuf and Shakib Al Hasan took six wickets for 48 runs between them. The third spinner Iqbal Abdulla was also economical, going for 23 in his four overs.

Gautam Gambhir turned to spin after Brendon McCullum took Brett Lee for 15 runs in the third over. Right away, the left-arm spin of Abdulla and Shakib slowed the scoring-rate as both McCullum and Mahela Jayawardene struggled to break free against the lack of pace and bounce.

Looking to charge at the slightest opportunity, McCullum had swatted Lee for boundaries on either side of the wicket, and also pulled him over midwicket for a flat six. But he found that the ball was not coming on from the spinners. There was some turn on offer though the bounce was not as low as during Kolkata's previous game against Rajasthan Royals.

The stifling spinners soon smelled success when a Shakib delivery seemed to stop on McCullum, who looked to play a half-hearted cut only to edge it to point.

The introduction of Yusuf in the eighth over brought more trouble for Kochi. Jayawardene, who had got away with a close leg-before shout earlier against Abdulla, was given out lbw while sweeping, even though replays showed he had gloved the ball before it hit the pad.

Yusuf struck in each of his next two overs. The slow nature of the pitch was further highlighted in Brad Hodge's dismissal; he was bowled off an inside edge after playing the pull too early.

By the time L Balaji was introduced in the 11th over, the spinners had conceded just 29 in seven overs for three wickets. Yusuf, who had already bowled a wicket maiden, was not done yet. He trapped Parthiv Patel leg-before with a quicker straight one in his third over. Having slipped from 49 without loss to 65 for 4, Kochi depended on Ravindra Jadeja to take them to a fighting total.

The allrounder smacked sixes in each of the 13th, 14th and 15th overs to take Kochi towards 100. He welcomed Lee in his second spell with a pulled boundary in front of square leg but his attempt to swing Lee for another straight six only found long-on.

Balaji and Lee ensured that Kochi didn't get away after the spinner's strikes, leaving their powerful batting line-up a modest chase. But Kochi have three spinners as well, including Muttiah Muralitharan, and would think that they have something to defend.