Tuskers trample Super Kings
Kochi: They did it again, Kochi Tuskers Kerala. This time in front of a near-capacity arena that reverberated to the tune, rather the trumpet, of the raging Tuskers. The home team turned in a commanding display to pull the rug from under the feet of the defending champions Chennai Super Kings, cruising to a seven-wicket win. The composed effort was their first home win and the second in succession, after upstaging Mumbai Indians last week.
Improving with every outing, the Tuskers, led imaginatively by Mahela Jayawardene, came up trumps in all three departments of the game to dispel any doubts that may have lingered as to whether the Kochi franchise would be a competitive side in the high-voltage lane of the Indian Premier League.
Brendon McCullum was at it again, destroying the best laid out plans of Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the top of the order. Ominously, he stepped out to Albie Morkel in the very first over and deposited the South African's fourth ball into the sight screen.
The delirious crowd, that exceeded expectations to create an electric atmosphere at the huge Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here, went wild cheering every boundary that flew off the bats of the Tuskers.
Call it the effect of the giant killing feat of beating Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians or the charisma of Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the wish of the KTK players and the management was fulfilled on a cool Monday night.
The fans turned up in huge numbers in support of the newest IPL franchise. They sang and danced all through the game and jumped up in joy as Ravindra Jadeja hit the winning runs.
To their great credit, the spectators remained patient even as rain kept the covers on the pitch for one and half hours, and they went back content.
Well, why not? The Tuskers reached 100 in just 68 balls and they won in style. 'The crowd is brilliant, hope they keep turning up,' jubilant skipper Mahela Jayawardene said.
'After the rain the 5-6 overs were very crucial. You don't anticipate these kind of things like the rain. We did the little things right, executed well, batted well, the captain added.
News Posted: 19 April, 2011
|
