Sat, 07 May 2011 - IP Kolkata vs IP Chennai,IPL 2011,48th Match - Bulletin

Kolkata overcomes Chennai challenge in rain affected match

It was a struggle for batsmen at the Eden Gardens as bowlers ruled the roost on a sluggish surface, Kolkata bowlers restricted Chennai to a small total and then rain intervened mid-way through the second innings to hand-over the hosts a 10 run win through the Duckworth-Lewis. With two points in their kitty Kolkata are more or less assured of a spot in the top four.

Chasing the modest target of 115, Kolkata lost Morgan early in the second over but skipper Gautum Gambhir and Jacques Kallis ensured the asking rate never went out of sight. Gambhir tried to negate the spin by using his feet and hit two boundaries before Manoj Tiwary replaced him to take the home team to 61 runs after 10 overs.

At this point, skies opened up once again and play was stopped. Further action was ruled out after heavy showers lashed the ground and with the spectators making a hurried exit, Kolkata were declared winners by 10 runs on the basis of D/L.

Earlier, the start of the match was delayed by about an hour due to drizzle. Dhoni elected to bat with the hope that the pitch would slow down towards the end. However, against all expectations, it was a slow and low pitch from the very start at the Eden Gardens where the ball just didn’t come on to the bat.

The Chennai openers found out that very soon as they couldn’t get the ball off the square. They couldn’t pierce the field on a single occasion and Murli Vijay was the first victim of the sluggish pitch chipping an Iqbal Abdulla delivery back to the bowler for an easy caught and bowled dismissal.

Such was the dominance of Kolkata bowlers that at the end of the field restrictions, Chennai had scratched their way to 15 runs for the loss of two wickets, Suresh Raina fell trying to hit Yusuf Pathan out of the park.

However, the first boundary of the innings did come but after 58 deliveries had been bowled, Badrinath barely clearing the long-on boundary for a six.

Chennai have had similar starts many times this season but they invariable manage to accelerate during the middle and late overs and get to a respectable story. Today, the story was a bit different. The Chennai innings never took-off; it just crawled on the ground, even though Badrinath tried his level best to push Chennai to a defendable total.

He was the best Chennai batsman on display scoring 54 runs off 41 balls. Even “Mr. Cricket” Michael Hussey struggled to find the middle of his bat and by the time he went, Chennai were in trouble at 49 for 3 after eleven overs. MS Dhoni

promoted Albie Morkel to hit some blows and increase the scoring rate. Although, the South-African combined with Badrinath for a 65 run partnership, Chennai could only manage 114 runs to set a decent target for Kolkata on a tricky pitch.

Making full use of the conditions, the Kolkata bowlers bowled tidily not giving anything away. Young Iqbal Abdulla and pacer Brett Lee conceded just 23 runs in eight overs.