Kolkata restrict Deccan to 126/7
Shikhar Dhawan (50) scored a patient half-century as Deccan Chargers scored a modest 126 for seven against Kolkata Knight Riders in their rain-affected Indian Premier League match, here today.
Deccan had got a good start thorugh Kumar Sangakkara and Dhawan (50) but could not capitalise as they lost wickets regularly after being asked to bat at Barabati stadium.
Brett Lee was top performer for Kolkata with the Australian giving away just 15 runs in his four overs, bowling 15 dot balls, and also took a wicket.
Paceman L Balaji (2/22) and Caribbean spinner Sunil Narine (2/26) also played a part in strangulating the Deccan innings by taking two wickets each.
Sangakkara (12) and Dhawan took some time to settle but once they had a feel of pitch they played shots confidently.
Dhawan hit a huge six off Yusuf Pathan, a daring pull off fast and furiuos Lee and then a lofted cover drive off the same paceman to accelerate the scoring.
Sangakkara and Dhawan had put on 37 together when Balaji castled the Sri Lankan to break the partnership. It affected the scoring although Parthiv Patel did a good job at number three.
Patel contributed 23 off 19 balls but an attempt to steal a non-existent double resulted in the diminutive player's run out. Dhawan turned down the call but Patel could not make his ground in time and left in utter disgust.
There were many a overs that went without a boundary and dismissal of big hitting Cameron White (10) in the first ball of the 15th over ony added to the woes of the Hyderabadi side.
Dhawan, who was earlier scoring freely, did not hit a boundary between his 30 to 50 and holed out to Debabrata Das off Rajat Bhatia just after reaching his half-century.
Tight bowling by Lee, Balaji and Narine kept Deccan batsmen under pressure. All the responsibility to give some respectability to Deccan score was on J P Duminy but the South Afican could contribute 16 off 15 balls.
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