03/05Result
22nd match (N), Indian Premier League at Mohali, May 3 2008
Kings XI won by 9 runs
Player of the Match
Irfan PathanPunjab Kings
03/05Result
22nd match (N), Indian Premier League at Mohali, May 3 2008
Kings XI won by 9 runs
Player of the Match
Irfan PathanPunjab Kings

END OF OVER:
20 | 9 Runs | KKR: 169/6 (10 runs required, RR: 8.45)

  • Wriddhiman Saha59 (32b)
  • Ajit Agarkar1 (2b)
  • Irfan Pathan4-0-18-2
  • Gagandeep Singh4-0-43-1

Whew. Some game, eh? Two humdingers in one day of an action-packed double bill is a bit much. This match had it all: some good bowling, some excellent batting, and plenty of frayed nerves. In the end, Punjab clung on to win. The crowd has been treated to a super game. Yuvraj had no hesitation batting first on this run-filled surface and thanks to some cameos Punjab put up 178 for 6. Sreesanth and Pathan then struck twice each at the start to take four wickets inside five overs and from there it was all uphill for Kolkata. Hussey and Saha refused to give up, adding 104 in 9.1 overs, which is a Twenty20 record for the sixth wicket. Hussey made 71 from 46 balls before falling in the penultimate over, Saha remained unbeaten on 59 from 32 but it wasn't enough. Kolkata lose their fourth on the trot. Stay with me for the post-match presentation.

Shall we? Ian Bishop has Ganguly to start off with: "Its not been happening for the last three or four games. We lose wickets in a cluster and end up being well behind. On this wicket, I felt 170 was gettable. Yes, we can come back. Every day is a new day. Its a matter of putting our heads together and getting into form."

Now Yuvraj steps forward: "We won this game in the first six or seven overs when we bowled to them. We're missing Brett [Lee] but Sreesanth and Irfan have done very well. The bowlers fought well. Hats off to Sangakkara, being injured but coming out to bat again and keep as well. Says a lot about his character. It was a great atmosphere tonight."

After their record partnership Hussey and Saha receive awards for hitting the most sixes this evening.

And the Man-of-the-Match prize goes to Pathan, who scored 25, took two economical wickets and a catch: "The ball swung well and mashaallah I bowled well. Sree got us the breakthrough and I backed him up well. I'm definitely enjoying this. Not playing for India was hard but I've come back and enjoyed myself. And I'm going to keep on enjoying. And keep coming back hard."

And thats a wrap. I'll be here again tomorrow to bring you the clash between the Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils at 16:00 local, 10:30 GMT. Do come back and see me then. Cheers!

19.6
4
Pathan to Saha, FOUR, swung away over square leg but that doesn't matter, as Punjab have clinched this match by nine runs to make it four in a row

No chance now ... the crowd has erupted

19.5
0
Pathan to Saha, no run, and that will do it, as Saha misses a low full toss outside off stump
19.4
1b
Pathan to Agarkar, 1 bye, another near-yorker outside off stump, Agarkar tries to steer it fine but misses, Sangakkara dives to his right and fumbles it so they cross for a run

That should seal the deal now. They need 15 from three balls.

19.3
1
Pathan to Saha, 1 run, cant get it away, as Pathan bowls a yorker on off stump, driven to cover
19.2
2
Pathan to Saha, 2 runs, well bowled, nearly a yorker, Saha hits it hard past midwicket and harries back for two, well run as the fielder was deep on that occasion

Saha will face, batting on 52. Well played. A spirited fifty. Sangakkara chats with Pathan, Jayawardene and Yuvraj. What will Pathan bowl? Kolkata need some big hits.

19.1
1
Pathan to Agarkar, 1 run, pitches on a length and Agarkar swings it to midwicket, so thats one

END OF OVER:
19 | 18 Runs 1 Wkt | KKR: 160/6 (19 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.42, RRR: 19.00)

  • Wriddhiman Saha52 (28b)
  • Ajit Agarkar0 (0b)
  • Gagandeep Singh4-0-43-1
  • James Hopes3-0-35-0

This kid can bat. He will be off strike. Agarkar will now face. Kolkata need 19 from six balls. Pathan on.

18.6
6
Gagandeep Singh to Saha, SIX, massive! Saha! Another big six over long-on, creamed off one knee

Superb innings from Hussey. Kudos. In comes Agarkar, but he wont face. Still 25 to get from seven.

18.5
W
Gagandeep Singh to Hussey, OUT, but this one's taken! Another slower ball from Gagandeep sucks Hussey out of his crease, he plays a repeat of the previous slog, which goes up into the starry evening for a long time but this time Hopes settles under it mid-off and takes it, then pumping his fists and letting out an almighty roar because Punjab know how important that wicket is

DJ Hussey c Hopes b Gagandeep Singh 71 (46b 4x4 4x6) SR: 154.34

18.4
2
Gagandeep Singh to Hussey, 2 runs, would you believe it? Gagandeep foxes Hussey with a clever slower ball, he slogs it up and up into the night but the ball drops smack between mid-on and mid-off after staying up there for an eternity
18.3
2
Gagandeep Singh to Hussey, 2 runs, better ball, up there in the blockhole, Hussey carves past extra cover and sprints back excellently to collect two more, my this man can run, and well backed up by young Saha
18.2
6
Gagandeep Singh to Hussey, SIX, miles, miles and gone! Hussey is not throwing it away, just sizing up the full toss and dispatching it rows back over long-on for maximum! This is a record stand between these two and its all happening in Mohali ... 100 and counting for Hussey and Saha
18.1
2
Gagandeep Singh to Hussey, 2 runs, up there in the slot and its driven down the ground, the sweeper has ground to cover and collects to return in a poor throw so thats two to the total

Kolkata need 37 from 12 balls and Yuvraj calls back Gagandeep. So Pathan will bowl the last over.

END OF OVER:
18 | 18 Runs | KKR: 142/5 (37 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.88, RRR: 18.50)

  • Wriddhiman Saha46 (27b)
  • David Hussey59 (41b)
  • James Hopes3-0-35-0
  • Vikram Singh4-0-31-1
17.6
2
Hopes to Saha, 2 runs, oh good grief, Pathan has dropped a dolly! Hopes again gives Saha a slow full toss, which he drives down to deep mid-on where Pathan, running in from the ropes, pouches it but loses it to his right, then looking around as it pops up behind him and drop, my that was silly, and will Saha make it cost?

A late surge from Kolkata. Hopes has been hopeless. Ball is lost in the crown and we have a delay. Umpires call for a replacement. Good fun.

17.5
6
Hopes to Saha, SIX, third six for Saha! Lovely clean hit, kneeling down and playing with the movement, heaving the slow off-cutter over deep midwicket
17.4
1
Hopes to Hussey, 1 run, steps down leg stump and Hopes follows him with the full ball, which Hussey drives in the air down to long-off, who fields on the bounce
17.3
6
Hopes to Hussey, SIX, he's smoked that! Hopes serves up another full toss and Hussey swings it away over cow corner for a good hit, rows back over the boundary
17.2
1
Hopes to Saha, 1 run, full again, he looks to go over midwicket with his swipe but gets a leading-edge over the bowler which drops safely in no man's land
17.1
2
Hopes to Saha, 2 runs, full on the stumps and he on-drives down to the sweeper, running hard

Kolkata need 55 from 18 balls. Huge ask. This is the best sixth-wicket stand of the IPL.

END OF OVER:
17 | 11 Runs | KKR: 124/5 (55 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.29, RRR: 18.33)

  • Wriddhiman Saha35 (23b)
  • David Hussey52 (39b)
  • Vikram Singh4-0-31-1
  • James Hopes2-0-17-0
16.6
1
Singh to Saha, 1 run, full in the blockhole and Saha can only drive it hard to long-on
16.5
2
Singh to Saha, 2 runs, slashes over point, the ball drops in front of Goel and Saha gets two
16.4
2
Singh to Saha, 2 runs, steps across and pulls from outside off stump, hit with too much bottom hand but its wide of mid-on and Hussey sprints back to get the second, to the danger end
16.3
1
Singh to Hussey, 1 run, low full toss, he makes room and clubs it towards mid-on

Match Coverage

All Match News

KKR 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st22SC GangulyMohammad Hafeez
2nd1Mohammad HafeezDB Das
3rd2BJ HodgeDB Das
4th4DJ HusseyDB Das
5th21LR ShuklaDJ Hussey
6th104DJ HusseyWP Saha
7th15AB AgarkarWP Saha