… Chennai Super Kings remain in contention
MUMBAI Indians batsman Rohit Sharma thumped an unbeaten century to help deny the Kolkata Knight Riders from going top of the Indian Premier League, with Chennai Super Kings beating Delhi Daredevils by nine wickets in the later game. Sharma crashed 109 from 60 balls to set up a 27-run win that lifted his Mumbai up to third and the brink of a play-off place.
After Sachin Tendulkar fell for just two early, stumped off Shakib Al Hasan, Sharma combined with Herschelle Gibbs (66 n.o.) in a stunning 167-run stand as the Indians posted 182 for one.
The Knight Riders suffered a double blow early on when openers Gautam Gambhir and Manvinder Bisla were dismissed inside the opening eight balls.
Jacques Kallis tried to engineer a recovery, with 79 from 60 balls, but even that was not enough to repair the early damage as the Knight Riders saw a seven-game unbeaten run ended.
Chennai Super Kings remain in contention for the play-offs after a dominant victory over table-topping Delhi Daredevils.
Delhi’s big-name batsmen all failed as they mustered just 114 for five batting first and Chennai, looking to up their net run-rate hauled the target in for the loss of just one wicket and with 28 balls remaining.
Mike Hussey (38) and Murali Vijay (48 n.o.) duly put on 75 in 10 overs before the Australian fell to Irfan Pathan. Suresh Raina was in at three and he added 28 in 20 balls, including two maximums, to seal a surprisingly simple win.
In the first innings, Delhi’s batsmen David Warner (eight), Virender Sehwag (four) and Naman Ojha (three) all fell in a devastating opening spell from Ben Hilfenhaus, with Mahela Jayawardene next man out to leave the visitors on 24 for four.
Venugopal Rao, with 27, and Yogesh Nagar, who hit 43 not out, at least carried their side into three figures but it was never likely to be competitive. (PA Sport)