Indian Premier League: Tambe hat-trick seals stunning win for Rajasthan

Kolkata collapse to 10-run defeat from seemingly impregnable position.

Our Correspondent May 05, 2014

Pravin Tambe was the architect of the win for Rajasthan with a stunning spell of leg-spin bowling. PHOTO: BCCI

KARACHI: Rajasthan Royals recorded one of the most remarkable comebacks in T20 cricket to defeat a stunned Kolkata by 10 runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match played in Ahmedabad, India.

Chasing a target of 161 runs, Kolkata were in complete control at the end of 14 overs. The opening pair of Robin Uthappa (65) and Gautam Gambhir (54) had added 121 runs when Gambhir fell to trigger a sensational collapse.

Six wickets fell for the addition of only two runs as spinner Pravin Tambe ran through the middle order, accounting for Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan and Ryan ten Doeschate off successive deliveries in the 15th over of the innings.

Shakib al Hasan (21) tried hard to bring his team back in contention after the shocking spell but failed to lead them past the target as Kolkata ended 10 runs short.

Earlier, Rajasthan posted a fighting total of 160 courtesy an all-round batting performance by their top order. Karun Nair was the main contributor, scoring 44 off only 35 balls while Sanju Samson scored 37 runs.

Tambe was declared the man of the match for his outstanding bowling spell.

Kohli hails De Villiers’ contribution for Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli hailed foreign recruit AB de Villier’s superb knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, that helped his team secure a thrilling four-wicket win.

The South African tore into teammate – arguably the best fast-bowler in contemporary cricket – Dale Styen in the penultimate over of the match to seal victory. The hosts needed 28 off the last two overs and De Villiers scored 24 of those in the 19th over bowled by Steyn.

"He [De Villiers] is the best player in the world by far,” said Kohli. “He has shown it every now and then, and he has shown it again today [Sunday] why he is rated number one in the world in any format.”

The right-hander hit three sixes including an astonishing lap sweep that went into the top-tier at the fine-leg boundary to spell doom for the fast bowler.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2014.

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