Kolkata exits the league in style!

KOLKATA: Last evening marked the exit of Kolkata team from the league. Finally it was an honourable exit for Kolkata at the Eden Gardens here on Sunday.

The home team, down 106 for six at one stage, recovered to win its last game against Punjab. Kolkata won by three wickets with three balls to spare. Skipper Sourav Ganguly was incredible with a blistering 86 off 53 balls only. Ganguly striked 6 boundaries and 6 big sixes.

The 49-run for the seventh wicket between Ganguly and Gul and a 20-run for the unbroken eighth wicket between Ganguly and Ishant Sharma in seven balls made the difference. Kolkata ended the campaign on a winning note by defeating a powerful side.

The target of 175 was a good target and needed a run rate of 8.75 per over. Kolkata’s batting order played well. Ganguly and Salman Butt gave a wonderful start to the team. Soon Butt was taken by Tanmay Srivastava off Sreesanth for 24 in 19 balls. He hit 5 fours. The leading wicket taker of the tournament dismissed Debabrata Das in the next ball to be on hat-trick. Das went back on a duck.

David Hussey denied him the rare feat but very soon he was bowled at ball by Chawala at 12 runs. Laxmi Ratan Shukla came and went at 5 runs off V.R.V. Singh. Then Ganguly was joined by Wriddhiman Saha and the duo added 32 runs for the fifth wicket.

Saha was out at 13 runs off Chwala. Chopra added 2 runs and was out at ball by Hopes. Gul made crucial 24 runs before being out off VRV Singh. Sharma was 0 not out. Thus came the score of 175, needed to win this match.

Earlier, powered by a superb 64 by Kumar Sangakkara and a fine 40 by Shaun Marsh Punjab put up a challenging total of 174 for six in 20 overs. The target given by Punjab was the highest target set on this ground by any side. The previous best was 149 for five by the home side against Chennai.

On Punjab’s side S. Marsh made 40 before his catch was taken by Chopra off Mendis. J. Hopes was lbw on ball by Gul at 13. K. Sangakkara was also lbw on ball by Gul. But before being out he added 64 crucial runs. Y. Singh was run out at 27. M.

Jayewardene was not out at 11. Pathan made 7. P. Chawla was out at duck on ball by Gul. T. Sriavastva was not out at 1. So team was successful in giving a good target but the home side was prepared to cross this score. Now Punjab sits at 18 points with one game to go. Kolkata is at 13 points from 14 games.