By Ken Borland
CENTURION, South Africa, May 18 - Belligerent
half-centuries by Brendon McCullum and Brad Hodge took the
Kolkata Knight Riders to a seven-wicket victory off the last
ball against the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier
League on Monday.
McCullum opened the innings as Kolkata chased a stiff target
of 189, and the New Zealander raced to his 50 off just 21 balls
to equal Yusuf Pathan's IPL record set for the Rajasthan Royals
against the Deccan Chargers in Hyderabad last year.
The Kolkata captain was eventually bowled by left-arm
spinner Shadab Jakati for 81 off 48 balls, with 11 fours and
three sixes, leaving his team 65 runs to get in six overs.
Hodge immediately warmed to the task and his ball-striking
was impressively clean as he took Kolkata to victory with a
top-class innings of 71 not out off 44 balls, which included
four fours and four sixes.
Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha played a supporting role with
an unbeaten 25 off 13 balls as Kolkata scored the last of the
six runs they needed off the last ball of the match.
Chennai's bowling fell shy of expectations, although
champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan baffled the batsmen as
he took one for 16 in four overs.
The Chennai total of 188 for three was built around a rapid
partnership of 74 for the third wicket between Suresh Raina (52)
and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (40 not out).
South African all-rounder Albie Morkel then unleashed an
assault on Ajit Agarkar, scoring 17 in the final over as he
reached 21 not out off 10 balls.
The victory was just the second in 13 matches for Kolkata,
while Chennai will be under pressure to win their last match,
against the Punjab Kings XI in Durban on Wednesday.
Chennai are still second in the standings but can be
overtaken by the Deccan Chargers, Punjab or Rajasthan Royals
should they win their final match of the round-robin phase and
the Super Kings lose.
(Editing by Alison Wildey
To query or comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)