IPL6: Mumbai stun Kolkata by 5 wickets

Mumbai Indians pulled a thrilling five-wicket win to stun Kolkata in Match 32 of IPL6 at Eden Gardens on Wednesday night.

Chasing a stiff target of 160, Mumbai won a cliff-hanger with one ball to spare spearheaded by a belligerent half century from opener Dwayne Smith (62).

Smith smashed five sixes and three boundaries during his 45-ball half century to lay the foundation for their victory.

Tendulkar was bowled neck and crop by Narine for two on his 40th birthday while Karthik was unfortunate to be adjudged leg before.

But new Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma (34) and Kieron Pollard (33) steered them to the brink of victory.

Senanayake went for pleclaiming one for 50 while Narine had the best return of 3 for 17.

Earlier, KKR made 159-6 getting off to a flying start with Yusuf Pathan hammering 19 with three boundaries and a six in the first over from Harbhajan which went for 26.

But their innings failed to kick-on despite a fluent 26 off 20 balls from Gambhir.

Kallis made a laboured 37 while Morgan smashed a breezy 31 off 25 balls with four boundaries and a six.

Ojha had the best return of two for 21, while Johnson and Malinga also claimed two wickets apiece.

MUMBAI INDIAN INNINGS

With two needed off two balls, Rayudu smashed a full toss from Bhatia through the covers for the winning boundary.

Harbhajan smashed a six of the first delivery he faced from Bhatia.

K Pollard c Tiwary b Bhatia 33 (24b 2x4 1x6)

Pollard holes out the first ball from Bhatia to Tiwary. MI 150-5 needing 10 from five balls.

Pollard on strike as Bhatia bowls the last over.

Mumbai need 10 from the final over as Balaji goes for eight in the 19th. MI 150-4.

Pollard smashes Senanayake for a six over long-on to put Mumbai on course. MI 142-4 in 18 overs.

Sharma paddle sweeps Narine for a boundary but is out caught and bowled two balls later deceiving him with a slower delivery. MI 132-4 in 17 overs.

R Sharma c and b Narine 34 (28b 1x4 2x6)

Mumbai get eight runs off a Balaji over. MI 124-3 in 16 overs.

Narine concedes just four runs in the 15th over. MI  116-3.

Pollard hits a boundary off Bhatia with McCullum misjudging the chance on the boundary. MI 112-3 in 14 overs.

Sharma smashes a couple of sixes off Senanayake over the bowler's head and over midwicket as Mumbai turn it on. MI 104-3 in 13 overs.

Pollard gets a streaky boundary off Bhatia off an inside edge. MI 90-3 in 12 overs.

Super sub Brendon McCullum juggles a skier from Smith as Narine strikes. MI 82-3.

D Smith c sub (B McCullum) b Narine 62 (45b 3x4 5x6)

Smith reaches his half century off 34 balls and smashes a third six off Abdulla. MI 75-2 in 9 overs.

Senanayake strikes in his second over trapping Karthik leg before. MI 64-2.

D Karthik lbw b Senanayake 7 (6b 1x4 0x6)

Smith hits Abdulla for a second six over midwicket. MI 51-1 in 7 overs.

Narine spoils Tendulkar's 40th birthday celebration by bowling the 'Little Master'. MI 29-1.

S Tendulkar b Narine 2 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Pollard smashes consecutive sixes off Abdulla as Mumbai are on their way. MI 28-0 in 4 overs.

Smith hits the first boundary of the Mumbai innings lofting the second ball from Balaji over extra cover.

Smith opens with Tendulkar as Balaji bowls the first over.

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS

Malinga strikes twice in the final over to restrict Kolkata to 159-6.

D Das b Malinga 6 (7b 1x4 0x6)

M Tiwary b Malinga 33 (24b 2x4 1x6)

E Morgan c Sharma b Johnson 31 (25b 4x4 1x6)

Morgan has slammed a boundary off Malinga. KKR 133-3 in 17 overs.

Tiwary smashes a boundary and a straight six off Chahal. KKR 125-3 in 16 overs.

Morgan gets another boundary from a reverse sweep this time off Chahal. KKR 111-3 in 14 overs.

Morgan brings up the 100 of the innings with a reverse to the fence off Harbhajan. KKR 102-3 in 13 overs.

Ojha completes his spell with excellent figures of 4-0-21-2.

Ojha picks up the  big wicket of Kallis in his final over caught in the covers by Rohit Sharma. KKR 92-3.

J Kallis c Sharma b Ojha 37 (38b 4x4 0x6)

Kallis is keeping the scoreboard ticking without taking risks. KKR 88-2 in 11 overs.

Kallis gets a life on 22 with Johnson grassing a chance in the boundary off Ojha. KKR 81-2 in 10 overs.

Tiwary opens his account with a boundary off Chahal through the covers. KKR 74-2 in 9 overs.

Ojha strikes in his second as Gambhir miscues a shot to Harbhajan in the covers. KKR 68-2.

G Gambhir c Harbhajan Singh b Ojha 26 (20b 2x4 1x6)

Pollard gives away four runs in his first over. KKR 65-1 in 7 overs.

Ogya comes into the attack in the sixth over and Gambhir has greeted him by slamming over midwicket for a boundary. KKR 61-1 in 6 overs.

KKR's 50 comes in just 26 balls.

Johnson pegs back Kolkata bowling a tight fourth over conceding just two runs. KKR 48-1 in 4 overs.

Kallis has cracked Malinga's second delivery through the covers for his first boundary. He ends the over with another boundary. KKR 46-1 in 3 overs.

Malinga into the attack in the third over.

Gambhir cracks a boundary off Johnson with a lovely square drive. Kolkata 36-1 in 2 overs.

Johnson strikes with his first legitimate delivery as Pathan is caught by Harbhajan at slip. Kolkata 27-1.

Y Pathan c H Singh b Johnson 19 (6b 3x4 1x6)

To add insult to injury, Gambhir blasts a six off a free hit following a no-ball. Kolkata 26-0 in 1 over.

Pathan has smashed three consecutive boundaries and a straight six off the first four deliveries from Harbhajan.

KKR have won the toss and will bat first.

Munaf and Bhumrah make way for Ojha and Chahal it to the Mumbai Indians side.

Ricky Ponting has been left on the bench and Rohit Sharma will take over as Mumbai Indians captain.

PLAYING XI

KKR: G Gambhir, Y Pathan, J Kallis, E Morgan, M Tiwary, D Das, R Bhatia, I Abdulla, S Senanayake, S Narine, L Balaji

MI: S Tendulkar, D Smith, D Karthik, RG Sharma, K Pollard, A Rayudu, H Singh, M Johnson, L Malinga, P Ojha, Y Chahal

The toss has been delayed by half an hour because of rain.

All eyes will be on birthday boy Sachin Tendulkar when Mumbai Indians (MI) take on defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 33 of IPL6 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday.

The ‘Master Blaster’ who turned 40 on Wednesday, made an appearance in front of the media for a cake cutting ceremony and took the opportunity to thank his fans and well wishers for the unconditional love they have showered on him till date.

“First of all thank you very much to all of you for this gesture. It is really touching. I was just walking to get here and met Anil Kumble along the way who wished me Happy Birthday and said, “Don’t worry Forty is only a number. That is very relieving,” said Tendulkar addressing the press in Kolkata.

Tendulkar also thanked all the fans in India.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank all the people of India and all across the world who are well wishers of mine, who have supported me throughout and showered their unconditional love for me over the last 23 years. It has been really special and because of the good wishes and prayers, I am standing here in front of you after 23 years. It has been my strength. I thought this was the best opportunity to come here and thank each and every one of them for every little thing that they have done for me,” added Sachin.

The pressure is mounting on KKR who have only won two of their six matches and sit at seventh place in the table.

MI sit sixth in the table with three wins and as many defeats.

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