Dinesh Karthik pulls Punjab to victory !

Karthik smashed 69 off 31 balls to loft Punjab to victory, over the hapless Kochi Tuskers.

178 was a mammoth total achieved by the Tuskers, helped largely to a great innings of 76 by skipper, Mahela. Chasing 179 was not easy and Punjab lost Valthaty ( 17 ) and Gilchrist ( 9), raising visions of a collape. But Dinehs Karthik ( 69 ) and Shaun Marsh ( 42 ) pulled Punjab to safety. Punjab were 31/2, when both put of 111 in 9.3 overs.

David Hussey completed the formalities by lofting R Jadeja for a six and Punjab won by six wickets.

Karthik smashed five sixes and seven fours, but could not get the wicket keeper's slot in the Indian team. Marsh smashed two sixes and five fours in his blistering knock.

Brilliant swing bowling by R P Singh ( 4/25) could not deter Punjab from achieving their objective. With this win, Punjab moved to the sixth spot and is optimistic about playing in the play offs.

Mahela later said that Kochi is not consistent. Kochi now finds virtually shot out of IPL 2011, with two matches remaining.

Valthaty's middle stump was sent flying by RP, after PCV ( Valthaty ) has smashed two consecutive sixes off the same bowler.

Marsh hit Sreeshant for three fours and Karthik hit V Kumar for a six and four and then the avalanche of shots took Kochi by storm.

Owais Shah played well for his 23 off 12 balls, with two sixes and a four, but Kochi could not get past their highest total so far in the IPL, 184/2 against Mumbai.