PACEMAN Ishant Sharma bagged five wickets in a spirited bowling display as Deccan Chargers skittled Kochi Tuskers Kerala for 74 in a 55-run win in the Indian Premier League yesterday.
Sharma (5-12) extracted a lot of movement off the pitch and, with help from South African paceman Dale Steyn (3-16), reduced the Tuskers to 11 for six after they were left chasing 130 for a victory at home.
Seven batsmen from the Kochi side, led by Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene in their debut season in the IPL, were dismissed for a duck and they were eventually bundled out in just 16.3 overs.
Chargers captain Kumar Sangakkara (47-ball 65) made full use of a lucky break after he was bowled off a no-ball from Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and anchored the innings after a jittery start on being asked to bat first.
In Mumbai, Australia fast bowler Doug Bollinger took three wickets and Subramaniam Badrinath hit an unbeaten 63 to help defending champions Chennai Super Kings to an eight-wicket win against Pune Warriors.
The Pune team lost wickets at regular intervals and needed a solid 43-ball 62 from captain Yuvraj Singh to reach a respectable 141 for six wickets.
Badrinath saw the Super Kings home with three balls to spare after notching up a 61-run second wicket partnership with Murali Vijay (31) and an unbroken third wicket stand of 65 with Suresh Raina (34 not out).
