Batting first, the Indians, who nevertheless finished on top of the table, scored 133 for eight and in reply, Brendon McCullum hit an unbeaten 57 as the Knight Riders got home with 15 balls to spare. Shane Bond struck twice early on to set the tone for the match and despite Saurabh Tiwary’s 46 in 37 balls and Ambati Rayadu’s 27 in 15 deliveries, they did not put enough runs on the board, left-arm spinner Murali Kartik also taking two wickets.

Sourav Ganguly then smashed 42 in 36 balls, putting on 97 for the first wicket with McCullum and when he departed, caught by Mumbai’s stand-in captain Dwayne Bravo off of Rajagopal Sathish, McCullum, who stroked eight fours, was accompanied over the finish line by David Hussey, who was unbeaten on 20 in 14 balls.

On a slow, turning pitch at Eden Gardens, a packed house saw the Royals collapse from 59 without loss to make 132 for nine and the Knight Riders then recover from a poor start to get home in 16 overs and one ball.
Shane Watson hit 44 in 26 balls to get the Royals’ innings off to a fine start, the Australian hitting seven fours and a six before he missed a Laxmi Shukla slower ball and was bowled. The wickets continued to tumble as the Knight Riders combined tight bowling with superb catching and slack outfielding, Shukla, Ganguly and Chris Gayle all holding on to tough chances.

Debutant Aaron Finch made 21 and Faiz Fazal 13 as the Royals lost their way with the bat, Jaidev Unadkat returning three for 26 by dismissing Naman Ojha (18), Yusuf Pathan (8) and Abhishek Raut (2). The Knight Riders would have wanted Brendon McCullum (6) and Gayle (0) to provide their side with the platform from which they could have seriously enhanced their net run-rate but their dismissals, the former clipping Kamran Khan to square leg and the latter clean bowled by the same bowler, forced Ganguly and Cheteshwar Pujara to concentrate first on consolidating the innings.

This they did effectively and it wasn’t until such time as the game was almost won that the pair hit the accelerator, Ganguly hammering 11 fours and two sixes and Pujara five fours and a six as the game was eventually closed out with just under four overs to spare. Ganguly was unbeaten on 75 in 50 balls while Pujara made 45 in 38 and the pair shared an unbroken third-wicket stand of 112.

The Kolkata Knight Riders, who were restricted to 139 for eight, are now relying on other results to go in their favour if they are to make the semi-finals while the Super Kings have made giant strides towards the business end of the tournament.

Raina was unbeaten on a dashing 78 in 39 balls and Vijay made 50 in 40 balls as the Super Kings also did their net run-rate a power of good by cruising home with six overs and three balls in hand. Their victory was first set up by an impressive spell from off-spinner Ravi Ashwin, who opened the bowling and dismissed Chris Gayle (7), Brendon McCullum (0) and David Hussey (0) to return figures of three for 16.

Doug Bollinger had Sourav Ganguly trapped in front for ten and although Angelo Mathews (48) and Manoj Tiwary (27) helped to rebuild the innings, Chennai kept it tight and were always the favourites at the halfway stage.

In reply, Matthew Hayden fell early, failing to score before being bowled by Gayle but that was as good as it got for the Knight Riders, who were then smashed to all parts by Raina and Vijay. Raina thumped 11 fours and three sixes and Vijay helped himself to four fours and two sixes as the pair put on an unbroken 137-run stand to seal the match. The crushing manner of Chennai’s victory lifted them to second in the table ahead of four other teams on 12 points by virtue of their superior net run-rate.

The Knight Riders had reached 160 for nine with Brendon McCullum top scoring with 45 before a collapse, inspired by another impressive bowling spell from Ranganath Vinay Kumar. McCullum hammered five fours and two sixes in his 36-ball innings and the Knight Riders looked set for a big total, Sourav Ganguly having made 33 and Chris Gayle 34. However, Kumar returned three for 23 and no other player could pass 16 as Jacques Kallis also picked up a couple of wickets.

Kallis made just eight before he became the first Bangalore batsman to be dismissed but a partnership of 72 between opener Sridharan Sriram (27) and Rahul Dravid (52) put them in a strong position. Dravid hit five fours and two sixes in 35 balls and the partnership set the stage for Uthappa’s assault, whic confirmed the victory in emphatic style, and reignited the Challengers’ semi-final push.

Since it was Kolkata Knight Riders’ second offence of the season, under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over rate offences, captain Sourav Ganguly was fined US$40,000 and each player in the team US$10,000.

This also means that another such offence would imply a one match ban on skipper Sourav Ganguly, a punishment similarly given to Kumar Sangakkara.

After making a brilliant 46-ball 56, Ganguly’s fielding inspired Kolkata Knight Riders spirits to record their fifth win from ten matches. But the home side remained at the sixth spot behind Chennai Super Kings with 10 points. Despite the shock defeat, Delhi Daredevils were in the second position with 12 points from ten matches.

Medium pacer Ashok Dinda rocked Delhi Daredevils with the fifth ball when he uprooted left-hander David Warner’s off stump. Sehwag and skipper Gautam Gambhir repaired the early damage with a 99-run stand for the second wicket. The left-handed Gambhir (47 off 29 balls; 6×4, 1×6) looked in great touch but he ran himself out while going for a quick single. Ganguly’s accurate throw from mid-off had a desperate Gambhir short of crease at the non-striker’s end. Carom ball bowler Ajantha Mendis removed the England all-rounder Paul Collingwood, who was caught in the deep for 2. Kolkata Knight Riders were back in the match. But Sehwag cruised away to a 34-ball 50. He indulged in big hitting that put Kolkata Knight Riders on the back foot. Seasoned campaigner Ajit Agarkar brought life into Kolkata Knight Riders’ camp by shattering Sehwag’s stumps to put Delhi Daredevils in a spot of trouble at 134/4. The match turned in the home side’s favour when Mendis dismissed Kedar Jadhav, caught splendidly by Ganguly at short covers (144/5). Delhi Daredevils lost their sixth wicket as Maharoof was bowled by left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla in the next over. There was no looking back for Kolkata Knight Riders who cantered home easily.

Earlier, Ganguly meant business as he hit New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori for three fours in his first over. Chris Gayle made a subdued start before he opened out against leg-spinner Amit Mishra’s second over, striking two fours and one six. The West Indies captain raced away to 21-ball 40 (5×4, 2×6) before he was deceived by a slower one from Rajat Bhatia to be bowled. But Gayle had done his job by putting on 94 runs in 10.2 overs for the opening wicket with Ganguly. Manoj Tiwary (18-ball 26) and Angelo Mathews (28-ball 46) took Kolkata Knight Riders to a good 181/3.

Having terminated John Buchanan’s contract earlier this month along with his entire team of support staff, Shah Rukh Khan’s franchise has now picked up the probable names whom they want on board. Former India coach John Wright, Richard Pybus and National Cricket Academy Director Dav Whatmore are believed to be in the running for the job.

Though it is learnt that the owners are in favour of securing Wright, preferably because of his his long and fruitful association with Sourav Ganguly, it has also been learnt that the names of ex-coach Lalchand Rajput and former India batsman WV Raman are being discussed as contenders for the post of assistant coach.

Soon after BCCI granted amnesty to 79 current cricketers, Buchanan said it was an opportunity for KKR to rope in some of the players to revive their fortune in the IPL.

“We’ve shortlisted about half a dozen Indian batsmen in the ICL. Now we’re just waiting to hear back from the IPL as to how they will approach this issue of letting players in – if there will be a draft or an open market,” Buchanan said. The Australian said he always felt KKR lacked local talents and it hurt them badly in IPL II, in which they finished at the bottom.

“I said right from the outset that we were short of quality Indian top-order batsmen and that is still the case. The ICL has released quite a few players in the last little while. There are quite a lot of good, young Indian batsmen among them and I think that is a situation that could work well for KKR,” Buchanan said.

Incidentally, Buchanan’s own future does not look secure with the franchise amid reports that owner Shah Rukh Khan might sack the Australian after the team’s dismal show in IPL II.

The franchise is expected to take some tough, swift decisions in the wake of the debacle in South Africa, where KR, with Brendon McCullum at the helm, finished last among the eight teams on the points table.

Sources suggest the team is keen on someone with prior experience of coaching in the subcontinent, either an Indian or a foreigner. Names like former Bangladesh coach Dave Whatmore, who is now at the National Cricket Academy, ex-Pakistan coach Richard Pybus and even former players like WV Raman and Paras Mhambrey are doing the rounds.

‘‘It too early to say who will come in as a replacement but Buchanan is certainly not going to carry on next year,’’ sources said.

After being written off last season, Deccan Chargers have emerged winners and its owner Deccan Chronicle has reason to smile. Last year, Deccan appointed KPMG for a stake sale for a team that stood last in the league.

Today, the tables have turned, Deccan Chronicle officials revealed that the team would make a profit of Rs 40-50 crore, including revenues from the Champions League T20 in October. Experts say that team profits for listed companies such as India Cements, Deccan Chronicle and United Spirits may contribute a 5-20 per cent to company’s core profit after tax. Delhi Daredevils, on the other hand, are expected to emerge as the most profitable team post the T20 championship.

IndiaInfoline says all teams will break even this year. Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils will be among the most profitable teams post IPL-II. The broadcasting revenues will nearly double to Rs 67.5 crore for each team. All teams will get 60 per cent of the central sponsorship fees, amounting to Rs nine crore per team. Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers will get significant team sponsorship fees. This year, teams are expected to get Rs 13 crore in in-stadia advertising and gate revenues.

Also, the BCCI is expected to compensate team franchises for additional cost incurred due to shift of venue. Brand experts say the valuations of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Deccan Chargers will shoot up by at least 30-40 per cent.

Half-centuries from Brendon McCullum (81) and Brad Hodge (71 not out) steered them to 189 for three after Suresh Raina’s 52 had helped the Super Kings reach 188 for three. Raina hit three fours and three sixes in his innings, facing 37 balls in all, coming to the crease after openers Parthiv Patel (25) and George Bailey (30) were both run out.

IPL Scorecard – Kolkata Knight Riders beat Chennai Super Kings, 51st match

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni chipped in with an unbeaten 40 while Albie Morkel was unbeaten on 21 in ten balls. Ashok Dinda was the only Knight Riders bowlers to take a wicket when he had Raina caught by Laxmi Shukla one ball after he had reached his half-century.

Brendon McCullum then smashed his way to 81 in just 48 balls, thumping 11 fours and three sixes, making light of the dismissal of Saurav Ganguly, bowled via an inside edge by Muttiah Muralitharan for four. McCullum was joined at the wicket by Brad Hodge, who played a masterful innings, hitting four fours and four sixes in 44 balls at the crease but after McCullum was bowled by Shadab Jakati and David Hussey ran himself out for three, there was plenty of work to do.

Some lusty hitting from Wriddhaman Saha, hitting out with a runner due to cramps, got the target down to six required from the final over, for which Dhoni turned to Raina with his off-spin. A dot ball was followed by three singles and two runs, leaving the scores level with a ball to go. Dhoni brought the field in, Saha thumped the ball over the fielders into the covers and the Kolkata finally felt the winning feeling again.

Chennai now need another win if they are to reach the semi-finals for the second year in succession as they have 15 points from 13 games and Kolkata Knight Riders have 5 points from 13 games.

The Chargers, who had lost their way a little after Adam Gilchrist crashed 43 in 31 balls, Tirumalasetti Suman made 31 and Herschelle Gibbs 28, needed 21 to win from the final six balls, but Sharma, unbeaten on 32, and Yalaka Venugopal Rao, unbeaten on seven, with the help of a no ball and some wides, plundered 21 runs to seal a remarkable win.

Mortaza looked to have put his side in a strong position to win when he ran out Andrew Symonds for 18 with three overs to go but he ended the match nursing figures of nought for 58.

Australians Brad Hodge (48 in 41 balls) and David Hussey (43 in 17 balls) top scored for Kolkata, Hussey blasting four sixes in his fine innings. Ryan Harris, back in the Chargers side along with Gibbs, picked up two for 20 with Symonds and Sharma picking up a wicket apiece.

McCullum blasted an unbeaten 84 in 64 balls as the Knight Riders made their way to 173 for four but Taylor was even more impressive, striking 81 not out in just 33 balls as the Challengers got home with four balls to spare.

Kallis cut Murali Kartik powerfully only to see McCullum dive full length to his left at cover to pull off a stunning catch. Kallis was as stunned as anybody, but he had to go and soon after, Ryder sliced a catch to Saurav Ganguly and once Robin Uthappa fell for seven and Rahul Dravid for 12, the Challengers were in trouble at 122 for four in the 16th over.

Step forward Taylor, who soon took Kartik for two sixes in two balls to get the run chase back on track and the deal was almost complete when Taylor and Mark Boucher (13 not out) took Ishant Sharma for 17 runs in the 18th over, Boucher hacking a chest-high full toss over the boundary ropes to exact a double punishment as the umpire had no choice but to call it a no ball.

Two more sixes off of Agit Agarkar left just five runs required from the last over and after Boucher scampered a leg bye, Taylor ended the match in supreme style by hoisting Angelo Mathews into the crowd at midwicket with his fifth six.

Earlier, the Knight Riders welcomed a return to form for captain McCullum, who led by example by hitting ten fours and two sixes, employing some deft touches to score boundaries over the wicket-keeper’s head as well as some crashing strokes through the off side. He was supported by David Hussey, who hit 43 in 27 balls on his first start of the 2009 IPL, with three fours and two sixes. McCullum kept hitting despite losing Ganguly (4), Arindam Ghosh (7), and Mathews (16) along the way.

Bangalore Royal Challengers now have 10 points from 11 games while Kolkata Knight Riders have 3 points from 11 games.

The Knight Riders’ were restricted to 123 for eight, Amit Mishra ripping through their middle order with three for 14, before AB de Villiers guided the Daredevils home with nearly three overs to spare with an unbeaten 40.

The result leaves the Kolkata side well adrift and their batting, apart from Saurav Ganguly (44) and Agit Agarkar (39) failed to fire. Highly-rated overseas stars Brad Hodge and Morne van Wyk failed to muster a run between them while Brendon McCullum was unluckily given out trapped in front shortly after he had smashed Ashish Nehra for a six.

Man of the match Mishra dismissed Yashpal Singh (13), Wriddhaman Saha (0) and Moises Henriques (2) before Agarkar’s late rally offered Kolkata hope. A quick blast of 36 in 29 balls from David Warner ensured that the Daredevils were always ahead of the rate as he shared a 53-run opening stand with Gautam Gamhir (18).

Tillakaratne Dilshan (1) fell to a superb boundary catch by Henriques as he just failed to clear the ropes when he took on Ishant Sharma, but the cool heads of de Villiers and Dinesh Karthik (17 not out) ensured there was no way back for the Knight Riders.

Delhi Dare Devils now have 14 points from 9 games and are at 1st position, while Kolkata Knight Riders have 3 points from 10 games and are 8th in the table.

Acting captain Gautam Gambhir was unbeaten on 71 as the Daredevils raced to 157 for one with an over to spare after the Knight Riders, anchored by 74 from Morne van Wyk, had reached 153 for four.
The Knight Riders were both desperately poor and desperately unlucky in the field, Brendon McCullum dropping Gambhir when he was on 21 and then when the left-hander did edge to wicket-keeper van Wyk, on 45, he was given not out. Countless other shots flew just wide or short of fielders but the fumbles and drops were again far too high.

South African van Wyk, however, was superb in hitting 74 in 48 deliveries, a rare innings that was full of orthodox drives and precise cuts. It was a complete contrast to McCullum’s efforts, all wild swings of the bat, although when he did connect, the ball travelled and he made a swift 35 to get the Knight Riders off to a good start.

Brad Hodge made just ten before compatriot Moises Henriques hit an unbeaten 30 in 24 balls. Pradeep Sangwan picked up two for 29 while Ashish Nehra (1-23) bowled van Wyk. Gambhir and Warner then laid the foundations for a successful run chase by adding 60 runs in seven overs before Warner pulled an Agit Agarkar bouncer high in the air where Henriques held the catch, one run after McCullum had dropped Gambhir.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (42 not out in 34 balls) added some late fireworks to the party by smashing Ishant Sharma into the stands, and Henriques more farce when he dropped Gambhir at midwicket although by that time the match was all but over. Gambhir closed proceedings by driving Sharma over mid-off, the same shot that he had used to bring up his half-century.

The Kolkata Knight Riders batted cautiously in their first 10 overs, reaching the mid-innings break on 52-1. They almost doubled this tally in the second half of their innings, with Brad Hodge smashing an undefeated 70 to rise to third in the race for the Orange Cap for leading run-scorers in Season 2009 with a total of 230 runs. Brad Hodge now follows two players from the Chennai Super Kings – left hand opening batsmen Mathew Hayden who with 246 runs leads the Orange Cap standings, who is closely followed by his team-mate Suresh Raina with 232 runs. Hodge, whose 70 came off 43 balls, hit 10 fours and a six. With Sourav Ganguly (22 off 17 balls) and Morne van Wyk (18 off 12), he helped add 75 runs in the final six overs of the Kolkata Knight Riders innings.

The Kings XI Punjab opener Sunny Sohal (25 off 17 balls, three sixes) had two lives on two and another on 16, while Simon Katich (34 off 28 balls, three fours and a six) was dropped by Chris Gayle off a top-edged shot to third man when he had only five. In fact, it was this spell of poor fielding that helped Kings XI Punjab get to 50 by the sixth over. Pathan (19 not out off 16 balls) and man of the match Jayawardene (52 not out off 41 balls) added an unbroken 45 for the fifth wicket to edge the Kings XI Punjab past the Kolkata Knight Riders’ 153-3.

Things might have been a lot different though had the Kolkata Knight Riders, who’s only win in Season 2009 of the DLF IPL came against the Kings XI Punjab on April 21, not dropped four catches. The win lifted the Kings XI Punjab to second spot in the DLF Indian Premier League standings for Season 2009 in South Africa making them one of three teams level on eight points.

The Mumbai Indians lost Sanath Jayasuriya early on in the innings after choosing to bat first. Tendulkar made a handy 34 off 30 balls, but having struck Ajit Agarkar for a six and a four, the Mumbai Indians captain then fell to a fine catch in the covers by Kolkata Knight Riders captain Brendon McCullum. At 61/3 when the teams left the field for the strategic timeout it seemed as though the Mumbai Indians would struggle to get up to 130. In the 18th over Duminy helped himself to two sixes over midwicket off Laxmi Shukla and tagged on a few extra runs to take 18 off the over. Despite losing Ajinkya Rahane and Graham Napier, Duminy continued to swing for the fences. He hit two more sixes in the final over bowled by Ashok Dinda, taking 16 runs off it in total and in the process notched up his second half-century of the tournament, scoring his 52 runs off 37 balls hitting four sixes and one four.

The Kolkata Knight Riders decided to change their opening combination and shifted Sourav Ganguly up the order to open with Chris Gayle, but the move failed dismally when Ganguly was out first ball. Gayle’s erratic tournament continued when he did the same thing in Zaheer’s next over leaving the Kolkata KnightRiders in a hole at 8/2. However a clinical third wicket partnership between Brad Hodge and Morne van Wyk turned the innings around for the Kolkata Knight Riders with the pair putting on 89 in 12.3 overs.

They received a little help on the way with Hodge being dropped when he had 17 by Abishek Nayar and when Harbhajan Singh dropped the ball in attempting to run out Van Wyk. Van Wyk’s 32 came off 35 balls and included just three fours. With Hodge still there and McCullum coming in at six the Kolkata Knight Riders still had a chance. But Lasith Malinga, the league’s leading wicket taker with 11 and Purple Cap holder, as well as the most economical bowler in Season 2009 Season of the DLF IPL, bowled an excellent penultimate over.

With 23 runs needed to win off 12 balls, Malinga conceded just four runs and the pressure he built up led directly to Hodge’s run out off the last ball of the 19th over, effected by J P Duminy again and some clever work by wicketkeeper Pinal Shah. Hodge made 73 off 60 balls hitting five fours and three sixes.

There were reports that the venture hasnt turned out as planned for the Bollywood star and that he might be selling it off, with Nokia, Anil Ambani and Sahara India in the fray. Khan said he had made a lot of emotional investment in building the side and was not selling it.

“The amount of love I have invested in it, nobody in this world can afford to buy it,” Shah Rukh said after casting his vote.

Brendon McCullum won the toss and elected to bat first. Kevin Pietersen himself opened the bowling and picking up the wicket of McCullum off the first ball of the match, his side restricted the Knight Riders to 139 for six, Morne van Wyk top scoring with 43 and Anil Kumble, one of four spinners used, taking two for 16.

Young opener Shreevats Goswami then thumped 43 as the Royal Challengers raced away but were pegged back by wickets, Pietersen falling for 13. However, the experienced Mark Boucher made a vital unbeaten 25 in 13 balls to seal victory with a ball to spare. Kevin Pietersen signed off from the 2009 Indian Premier League by leading his Royal Challengers Bangalore side to a five-wicket win over the Kolkata Knight Riders in Durban.

Chris Gayle and captain Brendon McCullum batted for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Super Over with Kamran Khan bowling for the Rajasthan Royals. They scored 15 for 1 in the six balls faced setting a target of 16 for Royals. Yusuf Pathan and Ravinder Jadeja batted for the Rajasthan Royals with Ajantha Mendis bowling for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Thanks to Pathan’s hitting they got the target of just 4 balls.

Earlier, Rajasthan Royals scored 150/6 in 20 overs. The defending champions lost two early wickets when Paul Valthaty (5) was caught at third man by Ishant Sharma off Anureet Singh in the second over and in the next over Rob Quiney (6) edged an Ishant delivery to first slip for Chris Gayle to take the catch. Rajasthan were reeling at 14/2, but Graeme Smith and Yusuf Pathan added 56 runs for the third wicket in quick time before Mendis dismissed both in one over. Mendis took two wickets in one over as Rajasthan Royals were 78/4 in 10 overs. Abhishek Raut hit a four and 2 sixes in the last over by Anureet to take the Rajasthan total to the 150-run mark. Raut remained unbeaten on a 13-ball 21.

Kolkata lost their captain Brendon McCullum (3) early to Dimitri Mascarenhas but Gayle set the stdaium ablaze with his stunning fireworks. Displaying brute power, the West Indian captain hit 4 sixes and 2 fours in his 33-ball 41. He was dismissed by Warne who had him caught at long off by Ravinder Jadeja. Laxmi Ratan Shukla was promoted up the order but he scored 13 runs before he was caught by Mahesh Rawat off Kamran Khan. Shane Warne dismissed Chris Gayle as Kolkata Knight Riders were 67/3 in 10 overs.

Kolkata Knight Riders reply was led by former captain Sourav Ganguly who hit a magnificent 46 off 30 balls with the help of 2 sixes and 4 fours. He was dismissed caught behind on the penultimate delivery with his team just 2 more runs to win. Ishant Sharma was run out on the last ball of the innings while attempting a second run and that took the match into the Super Over.

Rajasthan Royals now have three points from three games and Kolkata Knight Riders have two points from three games.