Hodge destroys Rajasthan
Brad Hodge displayed a superb all-round performance as Kochi Tuskers Kerala crushed Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Hodge took four for 13 and was well-supported by the other Kochi bowlers as Rajasthan were bundled out for a paltry 97 in the 19th over.
The Australian then hit a whirlwind 33 off just 17 deliveries as Kochi overhauled the target in just the eighth over to further humiliate the Rajasthan team. The win was Kochi’s sixth in 13 matches and places them at sixth place in the IPL table. Meanwhile, for Rajasthan the defeat meant they languish behind the IPL newcomers at seventh place with five victories in 13 games.
Rajasthan never got going after both openers were dismissed at the score of 18 and as the quicker bowlers got rid of the top-order, Hodge wiped off the rest of the batting line-up. No batsman made more than Ashok Menaria’s 31.
Punjab beat Delhi
Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla spun Kings XI Punjab to a 29-run win over Delhi Daredevils, who failed in their bid to chase a competitive 171-run target.
Chawla claimed three for 16 as Delhi were restricted to 141 for eight with no batsman managing more than opener David Warner’s 29. Chawla was supported well by Shalabh Srivastava who finished with a brace for 39.
Earlier, Punjab were boosted by a 102-run partnership for the second wicket between Paul Valthaty and Shaun Marsh that troubled the Delhi team. Valthaty was eventually dismissed for 62, made off 50 deliveries, while Marsh fell short of a half-century ending with 46.
A brief cameo by Dinesh Karthik spurred Punjab to 170, a total that put them in a winning position. The win was Punjab’s sixth in 12 matches while Delhi suffered ninth loss in 13 games to languish at the bottom of the IPL table.
Mumbai suffer another loss
Anand Rajan was the hero as Mumbai Indians suffered their fourth loss in the IPL after being defeated by Deccan Chargers. Rajan claimed three wickets as Mumbai, in pursuit of a modest, 136-run target, were halted to 125 to suffer a shock loss and are now placed third in the 10-team event.
Captain Sachin Tendulkar’s 37 set the tone at the start of the chase but a top-order batting collapse saw last-year’s runners-up reduced to 25 for three. The middle-order tried to consolidate with Tendulkar before Rajan dismissed the right-handed batsman to derail Mumbai.
He then dismissed Tirumalasetti Suman and Kieron Pollard as Mumbai were humbled by Deccan who won just their fourth game in 12 outings.
Earlier, Dhawal Kulkarni put Mumbai in the driving seat by taking three for 26. Wickets at regular intervals ensured Deccan never got going and they had to settle for 135, a total that proved to be enough for Mumbai.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2011.
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