Punjab surge to fourth successive win
Kings XI Punjab maintained their momentum with a fourth successive win while the Kolkata Knight Riders slumped to their fourth straight defeat
Kings XI Punjab maintained their momentum with a fourth successive win while the Kolkata Knight Riders slumped to their fourth straight defeat
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!
No chance now ... the crowd has erupted
That should seal the deal now. They need 15 from three balls.
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.
Ishant Sharma has been fined 10% of his match fee for kicking the stumps down during the IPL match against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali yesterday
The Plays of the day for the IPL match between the Kings XI Punjab and the Kolkata Knight Riders
It's hard to imagine a 104-run partnership from just 55 balls being intrinsically worthless, especially in the Twenty20 format where such associations are usually 24-carat gold
Kings XI Punjab maintained their momentum with a fourth successive win while the Kolkata Knight Riders slumped to their fourth straight defeat