Daily Cricket News

Kochi Tuskers stun Mumbai Indians by 8 wickets

Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar's maiden Twenty20 century went in vain as Kochi Tuskers Kerela opened their account in the Indian Premier League with an upset eight wicket victory over Mumbai Indians here on Friday.

Mumbai Indian skipper Tendulkar slammed a 66-ball 100 and put on a stand of 116 runs with Ambati Rayudu (53) to set an imposing target of 182 before Kochi after skipper Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and decided to field.

But Kochi opener Brendon McCullum powered his way to an equally brilliant 81 and added 128 runs with Jayawardene to help the IPL debutants overhaul the stiff target, reaching 184-2 with six balls to spare.

When the match was poised on a razor edge, Ravindra Jadeja smashed left arm spinner Ali Murtaza for a four and two successive sixes off full tosses to help the Tuskers past the finish line in style after two earlier losses in the tournament.

It was heart burn for Mumbai skipper Tendulkar whose spectacular knock, in which he threw caution to the winds towards the end and came up with unorthodox shots, went in vain.

The iconic batsman smashed three sixes and 12 fours, reaching his hundred off a single off the last ball of the Mumbai innings, but McCullum stole the thunder from Tendulkar with a 60-ball 81, studded with who two sixes and 10 fours.

The New Zealander was well supported by Kochi skipper Jayawardene who cracked a brisk 56 off 36 balls to lay the foundation for the run chase.

Lasith Malinga brought Mumbai Indians back into the game, removing the openers in his last two overs but Jadeja, who made a 11-ball 25 with two fours and as many sixes, and Brad Hodge (11 not out in 7 balls) ensured their were no more hiccups and helped the Tuskers reach the target in style with an unfinished stand of 28 runs.

The Tuskers, who had lost their opening two games in their debut season, started the run chase promisingly when McCullum, dropped on zero by Rohit Sharma off Malinga at slip, punished the Sri Lankan pacer with a flurry of fours, three in all, in the bowler's second over.

With Jayawardene looking composed and aggressive at the other end, the Kochi outfit raised the 50 in the sixth over to keep themselves in the hunt as danger man Malinga was seen off for an expensive two-over spell for 22 runs.

McCullum stepped out to Kieron Pollard and lofted the West Indian over mid off for a six and then slog-swept Harbhajan Singh over mid-wicket for another maximum to keep the required run-rate within control. Pollard's first three overs went for 30 runs.

After 10 overs Kochi were 84-0, ahead of MI (71-0) at the same stage.

The New Zealander, credited with the first-ever century in IPL history, completed his half century in 41 balls with the help of two sixes and six fours.

Jayawardene, playing second fiddle while keeping the run-rate surging along, came into his elements just before the Tuskers reached the 100 mark in the 12th over by punishing Harbhajan Singh for two successive fours an inside-out lofted drive to extra cover and a pull to square leg.

He went on to complete his half century in a quick 30 balls with eight fours embellishing it.

Tendulkar brought on R Satish but McCullum swung him for a four and then powerfully drove left arm Ali Murtaza over the covers for another boundary in the 13th over at the end of which the Tuskers were 67 runs short of the target with all wickets intact on a good batting track.