Rohit Sharma scored 109 as the Mumbai Indians beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs, while the Chennai Super Kings scored an easy nine-wicket win over the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League on Saturday.
Sharma’s century off 60 balls was part of an unbroken 167-run stand with Herschelle Gibbs (66) as Mumbai reached an impressive 182-1 after electing to bat at Eden Gardens. Kolkata managed 155-4 in reply.
Sharma, who came in to bat after Sachin Tendulkar’s dismissal in the third over, was in the groove straight away, pulling speedster Brett Lee for a six over the square-leg boundary.
Photo: AFP
He exhibited several fine shots square of the wicket on either side, smashing seamer Rajat Bhatia for 19 in an over. He totaled five sixes and 12 fours in his maiden IPL century and dominated the partnership with Gibbs, who hit two sixes and seven fours in his first IPL appearance this season.
“There was no game plan, I just wanted to go out there and spend some time, which is what usually helps,” Sharma said.
Kolkata’s reply featured Jacques Kallis (79) and Yusuf Pathan (40 not out) keeping the home side in the hunt.
Pace bowler Munaf Patel bowled captain Gautam Gambhir with a slower delivery for a duck. After opener Manvinder Bisla fell for 1 to left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha to make it 3-2 in the second over, Kolkata always faced a stiff challenge.
Kallis added 57 for the third wicket with Manoj Tiwary (27), but some tight bowling by the Mumbai bowlers denied them the chance to have a good shot at the target.
Kallis struck three sixes and seven boundaries in 60 balls, while Pathan cracked a six and two fours in 31.
Mumbai climbed to third place in the standings, while Kolkata were second.
At Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Australia pace bowler Ben Hilfenhaus accounted for the top three batsmen — David Warner, captain Virender Sehwag and Naman Ojha — as Delhi were restricted to 114-5 on a slow pitch.
Two-time defending champions Chennai got to the target with ease after openers Murali Vijay (48 not out) and Mike Hussey (38) put on 75.
Chennai are fourth, while Delhi remain top.
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