IPL CRICKET 2010 - Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Mumbai Indians

IPL CRICKET 2010

Knights Have A Ball Against Rag-Tag MI

Ganguly's Boys Finish Sixth After Easy Win

Kolkata: Mumbai Indians helped Kolkata Knight Riders hand their loyal fans and enthusiastic owner Shah Rukh Khan a perfect parting gift as the league phase of IPL-3 drew to a close on Monday night.

          Flying into the city Monday afternoon without five havy weight performers -- Sachin Tendulkar, Azheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga and Kieron Pollard - the table toppers (10 wins) looked a rag-tag outfit in every department. Huffing and puffing their way to 133 for 8-easily their lowest score this season -- after stand-in  captain Dwayne Bravo had opted for first strike, the Mumbai Indians were just as toothless with the ball as the Knights coasted to 135 for a 9-wicket victory with 14 balls to spare.

          Their first-ever win over Mumbai Indians in six attempts was nothing more than a consolation for KKR, as they had already done irreparable damage to their semifinal aspirations by achieving a lowly net run-rate of -0.46 after 13 games. Pushing that figure past Royal Challengers Bangalore's NRR of +0.219 to snatch the fourth semis spot was beyond the realms of practicality.

        KKR did finish with 14 points -- their best tally in three editions - and an NRR of -0.34, but couldn't even topple Delhe Daredevils' NRR of +0.210 and had to sttle for sixth place.

        Sourav Ganguly and Brendon McCullum went about the moderate task calmly, scoring at seven an over without any trouble. The skipper swung left-arm spinner Ali Murtaza for six off the innings' third ball to announce that he was serious out Dilhara Fernando for special treatment as well, making room to hoist him on the offside for a four and a six.

        A leading edge ended his tournament, which went rather well for him on a personal front -- an aggregate of 493 runs and a clutch of stupendous catches, including one on Monday to dismiss Stuart Binny.

        But it wasn't enough to take his team into marquee territory and Dada will have to come back next year in an effort to engineer KKR's maiden semifinal appearance. McCullum came good in his fifth innings with an unbeaten 57, but it was too late.