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Knight Riders comes a cropper

Nandakumar Marar

Shaun Pollock in devastating form

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

EARLY STRIKE: Mumbai Indians’ Shaun Pollock celebrates the dismissal of Kolkata Knight Riders opener Salman Butt in the IPL match in Mumbai on Friday.

MUMBAI: Kolkata Knight Riders was bowled out for 67, the lowest score of the DLF-Indian Premier League so far.

Shaun Pollock showed the way with an outstanding four-over spell of swing bowling, finishing with three for 12 after the visitors were asked to bat at the Wankhede Stadium.

Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and then chipped in with four catches as Dwayne Bravo (two for 13), Rohan Raje (two for 16) and Dominic Thornely (two for 7) joined the party.

Terrific fielding

Mumbai Indians ground fielding and catching was top class, drying up runs and forcing the harassed batsmen into mistakes.

Pollock got another opportunity to assume leadership of Mumbai’s bowling resources after Tendulkar opted to field. The darting ball evaded Salman Butt’s blade before the opener walked out to loft the bowler over long-off, then dissipated anxious moments against Nehra’s movement with a slashed six to point.

The South African returned to get his man, Butt guiding an outswinger into Tendulkar’s hands at first slip and Kolkata’s horror began with opener Aakash Chopra’s run out.

Ganguly, stunned by the dismissal even before he could get into rhythm, looked on in dismay at the non-striker’s end as Pollock found the edge of David Hussey’s bat with a beauty for Takawale to snap up his first catch.

Mumbai’s fielders attacked the ball, cutting off singles as Kolkata crawled to 22 for three at the five-over mark.

Mohd. Hafeez went the Hussey way, attempting to get in line against Pollock but beaten by movement as Uttappa pouched a comfortable catch.

Knight Riders’ middle order lay exposed at 29 for five. Wriddiman Saha slashed at a Bravo ball in a hurry to get cracking, found the ball flying to Tendulkar.

A wicket-maiden in the eighth over of the match for the West Indian indicated the desperate measures needed from Ganguly to counter Mumbai’s stranglehold.

Rohan Raje had more shocks in store, castling L.R. Shukla off the first ball and leaped into the air in celebration.

Ajit Agarkar walked out to the crease, feeling the weight of expectations as well as hostility from home fans.

He leaned into two fours off an excited Raje as Kolkata struggled to 44 for six at the halfway mark.

Dominic Thornely and Raje were pressed into action, forcing Ganguly to give the slow bowlers the charge.

The Kolkata icon ended up trying to guide to third man, found Takawale moving well to complete a tumbling catch to his left.

Sensible batting

Shoaib Akhtar batted sensibly at number eight, but quick dismissals of Agarkar and Ishant Sharma, hastened Kolkata’s shocking end.

The scores:

Kolkata Knight Riders: S. Butt c Tendulkar b Pollock 13, A. Chopra (run out) 1, S. Ganguly c Takawale b Thornely 15, D. Hussey c Takawale b Pollock 2, Mohd. Hafeez c Uthappa b Pollock 5, W. Saha c Tendulkar b Bravo 1, L.R. Shukla b Raje 0, A. Agarkar c Tendulkar b Bravo 15, S. Akhtar c Tendulkar b Raje 2, I. Sharma c & b Thornely 4, A. Dinda (not out) 1; Extras (lb-2, w-6): 8. Total (in 15.2 overs): 67.

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-16, 3-21, 4-28, 5-29, 6-35, 7-55, 8-60, 9-65.

Mumbai Indians bowling: Pollock 4-0-12-3, Nehra 3-0-17-0, Bravo 3-1-13-2, Raje 2.2-0-16-2, Thornely 3-0-7-2.

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