By IANS,
Kochi : Brad Hodge’s final over burst and a double wicket maiden by Raiphi Gomez propelled Kochi Tuskers to a sensational 17-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in their Indian Premier League match here Thursday.
Tuskers posted 156 for six on a slow wicket with Hodge (35) smashing his Australian counterpart Brett Lee for 21 runs in the 20th over. Later, Gomez (2/14) and Vinay Kumar (2/28) took wickets at crucial junctures to continue their giant-killing run in the tournament.
Tuskers have already beaten defending champions Chennai Super Kings and current table toppers Mumbai Indians in earlier matches.
The match was set for an exciting finish as the Knight Riders needed 31 off last 12 balls with Eoin Morgan (66) and Yusuf Pathan (17) at the crease. But they both perished in consecutive balls of the 19th over and the side ended up with 139 for seven in 20 overs.
Tuskers have put their IPL campaign back on track with back-to-wins and have moved up to fifth place in the table with 10 points from as many matches. The Knight Riders stand at second place with 12 points from 10 games.
The match was nicely poised with openers Morgan and Jaques Kallis (45) taking the Knight Riders to 69 in the first 10 overs. But Gomez wreaked havoc in the next over as he bowled the South Africa with a slower one and then induced a needless stroke from opposition skipper Gautam Gambhir the very next ball to turn the game in favour of the home team.
Pathan and Morgan kept the Knight Riders’ hopes alive till the end but their quick dismissals sealed the fate for the visitors.
Earlier, Tuskers made the last five overs count to pose a challenging total.
Brendon McCullum (1), their most prolific scorer with 241 runs in the competition, departed in the second over but his opening partner Michael Klinger (29) played second fiddle to captain Mahela Jayawardene (55) to set the platform for a carnage towards the end.
Jayawardene paced his innings well and changed gears when required to post his second fifty of the tournament. The stylish Sri Lankan batsman struck two sixes and two fours in his 41-ball knock.
But it was Brad Hodge’s last over burst which gave Tuskers the much needed lift and made the difference in a close match.