MUMBAI, (Reuters) – Sachin Tendulkar’s maiden Twenty20 century proved in vain as Mumbai Indians lost to Kochi Tuskers Kerala, while Kolkata Knight Riders thrashed Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on Friday.
Mumbai skipper Tendulkar led from the front, blasting a 66-ball unbeaten 100 while Ambati Rayudu (53) also chipped in with a brisk half-century to power the home team to 182 for two.
Brendon McCullum (81) and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (56) shared a 128-run opening stand to set the tone for Kerala’s chase and Ravindra Jadeja (25 not out) hammered two sixes and a four in the penultimate over to seal an eight-wicket victory with one over to spare.
Earlier in Jaipur, skipper Gautam Gambhir (75) and in-form Jacques Kallis (80) featured in a blistering unbeaten 152-run stand to secure a nine-wicket victory for the Kolkata Knight Riders against the Rajasthan Royals with nine balls to spare.
Put into bat, a Rajasthan side led by Shane Warne closed on 159 for four, a par score on a sluggish track that was built around solid contributions from Rahul Dravid (35) and Ross Taylor (35 not out).
Warne used seven bowlers but could not separate Kallis and Gambhir, who was particularly aggressive during his chancy unbeaten knock that included 11 fours and a six.
