IPL 2010: Knight Riders signs off with consolation win

McCullum and Ganguly guide their team home with a steady opening stand

A steady 97-run opening-wicket stand between skipper Sourav Ganguly and Brendon McCullum gave Kolkata Knight Riders a launching pad for its comfortable nine-wicket win against Mumbai Indians in the final league match of the DLF IPL-III at the Eden Gardens here on Monday. It was KKR's first win against MI in six meetings.

Set a target of 134, KKR reached 135 for one in 17.3 overs to register its biggest victory in terms of wickets. McCullum remained unbeaten on 57 (56b, 8x4) and David Hussey was not out on 20. Ganguly, the lone man dismissed, scored 42 (36b, 4x4, 2x6).

Mumbai Indians rested five of its regulars, including Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh.

Opting to bat, it found the going rather difficult on a slow pitch as Shane Bond struck two early blows, removing Aditya Tare and Shikhar Dhawan cheaply. The third wicket pair of Saurabh Tiwary and J.P. Duminy played sensibly to keep the scoreboard ticking.

The pair was separated when Duminy played across to left-arm pacer Jaidev Unadkat and was bowled for 19.

Saurabh and Duminy added 63 in 60 balls. Tiwary too left at the same score, taken by McCullum at long-on off Kartik for a well compiled 46 (37b, 4x4, 1x6).

KKR conceded only 20 runs in the six overs from 10th to 15th that put the brakes on MI's efforts to accelerate the scoring.

Thereafter, captain Dwayne Bravo, Rajagopal Sathish and Stuart Binny left in quick succession trying to force the pace.

Late charge

A late charge by Ambati Rayudu for a 15-ball 27 livened up play and also enabled MI to reach 133 for eight wickets in 20 overs — its lowest against KKR.

Kartik, who was the pick of the bowlers with figures of two for 20, was adjudged the Man-Of- the-Match.

Shane Bond also got two wickets for 24 runs. Dinda, Unadkat and Tiwary claimed a wicket apiece.

The scores:

Mumbai Indians: A. Tare c Kartik b Bond 1 (3b), S. Dhawan c Saha b Bond 10 (11b, 1x4), S. Tiwary c McCullum b Kartik 46 (37b, 4x4, 1x6), J.P. Duminy b Unadkat 19 (27b, 2x4), R. Sathish c Kartik b Tiwary 11 (11b, 1x4), D. Bravo st Saha b Kartik 5 (9b), A. Rayudu (run out) 27 (15b, 3x4, 1x6), S. Binny c Ganguly b Dinda 8 (5b, 1x4), R. McLaren (not out) 0 (2b); Extras (b-2, lb-2, w-2) 6. Total (for eight wkts., in 20 overs) 133.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-14, 3-77, 4-77, 5-89, 6-111, 7-126, 8-133.

Kolkata Knight Riders bowling: Bond 4-0-24-2, Dinda 4-0-20-1, Unadkat 4-0-27-1, Ganguly 1-0-13-0, Kartik 4-0-20-2, Hussey 2-0-14-0, Tiwary 1-0-11-1.

Kolkata Knight Riders: S. Ganguly c Bravo b Sathish 42 (36b, 4x4, 2x6), B. McCullum (not out) 57 (56b, 8x4), D. Hussey (not out) 20 (14b, 1x4, 1x6); Extras: (lb-2, nb-5, w-9) 16. Total: (for one wkt., in 17.3 overs) 135.

Fall of wicket: 1-97.

Mumbai Indians bowling: Murtaza 4-0-27-0, Fernando 3-0-31-0, McLaren 3-0-26-0, Bravo 2-0-7-0, Binny 1-0-9-0, Duminy 2.3-0-22-0, Sathish 2-0-11-1 .