Consolation win for Kolkata

KARACHI: Kolkata Knight Riders earned a consolation win in their last match, defeating the Mumbai Indians by nine wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Mumbai, who played a second string squad having already qualified for the semi-finals, were restricted to 133 for eight before Kolkata chased down the target in the 18th over.

Skipper Saurav Ganguly (42) and Brendon McCullum (57) added 97 runs for the first wicket to put Mumbai out of the game. Ganguly, who is the third highest run-scorer in this year’s IPL with 493, hit four boundaries and two sixes. McCullum continued after Ganguly was dismissed and knocked off the remaining runs with David Hussey (20) without trouble. Earlier, Dwayne Bravo, leading the side in Sachin Tendulkar’s absence, chose to bat first. Mumbai were off to a terrible start, losing both openers by the third over - both falling to paceman Shane Bond.

Saurabh Tiwary (46) and JP Duminy (19) added 63 for the third wicket but consumed 10 overs in the process. Both batsmen fell when the score-line read 77. On a slow pitch, Mumbai failed to increase the scoring-rate and though Ambati Rayadu hit a quick 27 off 15 balls, they failed to put a competitive total on the board. Murali Kartik and Bond finished with a couple of wickets each. Although Kolkata finished with seven wins in 14 matches, they failed to qualify due to their slower net run-rate.

They finished sixth in the eight team tournament and are the only team to have never made it to the final four in the three editions of the IPL. Mumbai, who enjoy the first position at the end of the league matches, with 10 wins and four losses, will face Royal Challengers Bangalore in the semi-final today before Chennai Super Kings take on Deccan Chargers in the other semi-final match tomorrow.