Kolkotta crush Punjab

Kolkotta produced a professional display of bowling and batting and scored over the out of form Punjab. With ths win, they jumped to the top of the IPL Points Table.

Incidentally, 119 seems to be a magic figure. Pujab could only muster 119, setting an easy target for Gambhir's men. In the other match, wanting 158 for victory, Kochi could only make 119 ! Both Kochi and Punjab will have to do their homework right, in order to rise to the top !

119/6 Punjab scored. Tight bowling and fielding is not an excuse for Punjab, even though Kolkotta did precisely that. Abdullah rose to the occasion with 2/19

An unconquered 85 run partnership off 75 balls between Gambhir ( 45 off 44 balls ) and M Tiwari ( 34 off 41 balls ) saw Kolkotta home, as the small target was inadequate for Punjabi bowlers to defend. Tiwari and Gambhir both continued their superb form. Tiwari's average is a wonderful 109!

There were some scares for the home team, Kolkotta, as they lost two wickets for just 35 runs. Both Gambhir and Tiwari proved to be good players on a turning Eden Gardens pitch. KKR jumped to the top with ten points, sharing the same with MI.

Both Kallis and Morgan were removed early and the asking rate never rose above five, as the KKR batsmen got boundaries in almost all overs. Both were removed by the left arm spinner, Bhargav Bhat.

Earlier Punjab went off to a blazing start, but could not capitalise later and Kolkotta restricted them to 119/6. They were inserted into bat by Kolkotta under damp conditions, following showers, with Gilchrist smashing Brett Lee. He hit Lee for a six and a four and took 13 runs off that demon fast bowler. After 3 overs, they were 22 for no loss but then the slow bowlers intervened and put brakes to the onslaught. I Abdullah and Y Pathan restricted them with some accurate spin bolwing and Punjab could only make 119 ! Dinesh Karthik was the only batsmen who impressed with 42. But he ran himself out, trying to improve the run rate !

Y Pathan extracted good bounce and turn and got rid of the dangerous Valthaty. Marsh was run out unfortunately and Abdullah bowled Gilchrist around his legs ! A Nayan ran himself out and Punajb were 53/4. These loss of early wickets hurt Punjab and Karthik and David Hussey tried to do the repair work. In five overs they could only score 15 and the scoring rate slumped. But the duo added 31 off 34 balls before Hussey fell to Abdullah.