 Hussey steers Kolkata Knight Riders to victory
20th Apr 2008 23:00 IST
Agencies
Earlier, the Knight Riders bowlers utilized a tricky track to skittle out a strong batting line up of the Deccan Chargers for a paltry 110.
The Chargers, electing to bat, never appeared comfortable as only five of their willwoers reached double figures, with the Aussie duo of Symonds (32) and Adam Gilchrist (23) being the principal contributors before a near-capacity crowd of 87,00 at the Eden Gardens.
Spinner Murali Kartik (3/17) once again emerged as the wrecker-in-chief for the Knight riders, while Ajit Agarkar bagged a couple after being hammered for 16 runs in his first over.
The Chargers lost quick wickets as their top order caved in to some disciplined stuff delivered by the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers on a two-paced wicket.
The batsmen had a trying time as some of the balls either kept low or suddenly jumped awkwardly.
Young Ashok Dinda, playing only his second Twenty20 match, opened the bowling and generated a good pace. His new ball partner Ishant Sharma also maintained a good line and length while sending down his customary fiery deliveries.
Success came Ishant's way in his second over, when Deccan Chargers' opener Venugopal Rao departed giving a simple catch to Kartik at gully.
Skipper VVS Laxman departed soon after without bothering the scorer, as Dinda got his first wicket, reducing the Hyderabad-based side to 22/2 in 4.2 overs.
The dangerous Gilchrist sought to carry the fight into the opponents' camp in the next over as he clobbered Agarkar, the first change bowler, in his very first over for 16 runs, inclusive of two sixes and a boundary.
Ganguly turned to his spinners, and Kartik obliged him by evicting Gilchrist and Sharma (0) in his second over, as Chargers became 48/4.
While the veteran Aussie went for a pull and finished in the hands of deep square leg fielder Mohammad Hafeez, young Bengal wicketkeeper Saha took a fine diving catch after running a few yards in front of the wicket.
The 50 of the innings was posted in 9.2 overs, before Styris (6) returned to the pavilion.
As wickets continued to fall one after the other, Symonds tried to launch a counter-offensive in the 17th over as he disdainfully dispatched spinner Hussey for two successive sixes.
The over produced 20 runs, and saw the total past 100.
Symonds was finally devoured by Agarkar, with Hussey taking a skier in the extra cover region, and soon after the tourists' knock came to a close. |
