JOIN USWarriors gun down Tuskers
Chasing 149 to win set by the Tuskers, the Warriors were at a tricky 118 for six in the 16th over but Mohnish Mishra, who made unbeaten 37 in 21 balls with two fours and as many sixes, and Rahul Sharma (10 not out) stitched a useful 33-run stand in 19 balls to help Pune overhaul the target.
The other useful contributions with the bat for Pune came from Jesse Ryder (17), Graeme Smith (24) and Robin Uthappa, who stroked his way to a quick fire 31 in 13 balls with three fours and two sixes.
Kochi bowlers could not defend the target for the second match on the trot to suffer their second defeat after the loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore, while Pune got their second successive win in the tournament after having seen off the challenge from Kings XI Punjab last Sunday.
Earlier, Ravindra Jadeja counter-punched his way to 47 in 33 balls as Kochi recovered from a poor start and posted a modest 148 for eight at the D Y Patil Stadium.
Tottering at 24 for four in the fifth over, Kochi was bailed out by a fine fifth-wicket stand of 88 runs in 64 balls between Brad Hodge (39 in 36 balls) and Jadeja, who struck three sixes and as many fours in his impressive innings that ended in the 17th over. But for this stand, Kochi would have been bowled out for below 100 by the Warriors bowling attack that put in another impressive display.
Pune started the reply strongly when openers Jesse Ryder and Graeme Smith, batting with a runner following the knee injury he sustained after a collision with Rahul Sharma while fielding, put on 31 in quick time. But a brilliant, return catch by Vinay Kumar separated the duo and sent back Ryder who smacked the ball back strongly only for the bowler to stick his hand out and latch on to the ball.
Mithun Manhas also departed cheaply at 61, lofting Brad Hogg to long on fielder Jadeja, and raised the Tuskers hopes of a victory that got a big boost when Yuvraj Singh, the danger man, was also polished off by the part-time off Australian spinner, caught behind trying to cut, leaving Pune at 73 for four. Uthappa then lofted R P Singh over the straight field, deposited the first ball of a fresh spell from Muthiah Muralitharan over long on into the stands and then injudiciously tried a reverse sweep against the wily Sri Lankan offie to be bowled for 31 in 13 balls.
SCORE BOARD
Kochi Tuskers Kerala: Brendon McCullum c Uthappa b Thomas 0; VVS Laxman b Parnell 0; Parthiv Patel c Smith b Parnell 21; Mahela Jayawardene c Uthappa b Parnell 2; Brad Hodge c Kartik b Sharma 39; Ravindra Jadeja c Parnell b Ryder 47; Raiphi Gomez (not out) 26; R Vinay Kumar (run out) 1; Sreesanth (run out) 1; RP Singh (not out) 0.
Extras (B-1, LB-3, W-6, NB-1) 11.
Total (for 8 wkts, 20 overs) 148.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-11, 3-13, 4-24, 5-112, 6-113, 7-117, 8-147.
Bowling: Alfonso Thomas 3-0-31-1, Shrikant Wagh 2-0-10-0, Wayne Parnell 4-0-35-3, Murali Kartik 4-0-30-0, Rahul Sharma 4-0-18-1, Yuvraj Singh 1-0-12-0, Jesse Ryder 2-0-8-1.
Pune Warriors: Jesse Ryder c & b Vinay Kumar 17; Graeme Smith c Singh b Jadeja 24; Mithun Manhas c Jadeja b Hodge 12; Yuvraj Singh c Patel b Hodge 8; Robin Uthappa b Muralitharan 31; Mohnish Mishra (not out) 37; Wayne Parnell (run out) 1; Rahul Sharma (not out) 10.
Extras (LB-1, W-10) 11.
Total (for 6 wkts, 18.5 overs) 151.
Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-54, 3-61, 4-73, 5-115, 6-118.
Bowling: RP Singh 3-0-30-0, Sreesanth 3-0-21-0, Muttiah Muralitharan 3.5-0-42-1, R Vinay Kumar 3-0-15-1, Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-28-1, Brad Hodge 2-0-14-2.