DURBAN, South Africa, (Reuters) – The Bangalore Royal Challengers secured a five-wicket win off the penultimate ball against the Kolkata Knight Riders to move off the bottom of the Indian Premier League (IPL) standings yesterday.
The second match of the Durban double-header between the Mumbai Indians and the Kings XI Punjab also went down to the last over with the bowling side, Punjab, holding on for a three-run win.
Chasing Kolkata’s total of 139 for six, Bangalore reached 143 for five after beginning the last over of their innings needing 10 runs for victory.
South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher (25 not out) duly obliged for Bangalore by scoring 12 runs off five balls with the winning runs coming courtesy of a boundary behind square-leg. Bangalore’s winning total was built on a first-wicket stand of 69 off 72 balls between Jacques Kallis (23) and left-hander Shreevats Goswami, who contributed 43, while off spinner Brad Hodge returned figures of 3-29 for Kolkata.
After Kolkata had won the toss and chosen to bat, Bangalore made use of four spinners who between them bowled 15 overs for 99 runs, picking up five wickets. Leg spinner Anil Kumble was the most successful with 2-16 off four overs.
West Indies captain Chris Gayle contributed 40 runs to Kolkata’s score while right-hander Morne van Wyk, on his IPL debut, scored 43 not out.
Kolkata are rooted to the bottom of the table with one win and one no-result from their six matches.
Mumbai began the last over of their innings, bowled by left-arm seamer Yusuf Abdulla, needing 12 runs to win.
But when Abdulla (2-19) had JP Duminy caught at deep midwicket for 59 with the fourth ball of the over, Mumbai’s challenge fizzled out as they reached 116 for seven.
Punjab, who won the toss and elected to bat, scored 119 for eight on a sluggish pitch that did not encourage stroke play with Sri Lanka wicketkeeper/batsman Kumar Sangakkara top-scoring with 45 not out.
Indian Premier League results and standings
(Reuters) – Indian Premier League results and standings on Wednesday.
Bangalore Royal Challengers beat Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets.
Kings XI Punjab beat Mumbai Indians by three runs.
Standings P W L T NR PTS
Deccan Chargers 4 4 0 0 0 8
Kings XI Punjab 5 3 2 0 0 6
Delhi Daredevils 4 3 1 0 0 6
Mumbai Indians 5 2 2 0 1 5
Rajasthan Royals 5 2 2 0 1 5
Bangalore Royal Challengers 6 2 4 0 0 4
Chennai Super Kings 5 1 3 0 1 3
Kolkata Knight Riders 6 1 4 0 1 3
* T denotes tied, NR no result
Playing on Thursday Deccan Chargers v Delhi Daredevils, Centurion (1030) Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals, Centurion (1430)
