Rudolph takes Titans to victory
Jacques Rudolph’s unbeaten 83 helped Titans get off to a flying start in the Champions League proper as they cruised to a 39-run victory over Perth Scorchers.
After losing the toss, Titans made a flying start with the bat, openers Rudolph and Henry Davids putting on 109 in quick time.
Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Jacques Kallis is forced to retire hurt after being struck on the hand by international team-mate Morne Morkel
But the dismissal of the latter helped the Australian side drag things back somewhat; they eventually restricted their opponents to 163 for four.
That still proved more than enough, however, as the Scorchers never got close in reply, medium-pacer CJ de Villiers claiming 3-16.
In the day’s second match, Delhi Daredevils cruised to a 52-run victory over Indian Premier League rivals Kolkata Knight Riders.
Kolkata’s pursuit of 161 was undermined in stunning fashion as their top four contributed one run between them.
Irfan Pathan removed both openers in the first over and Morne Morkel then had Brendon McCullum caught at point for a duck before striking South African team-mate Jacques Kallis on the fingers of his right hand. Kallis retired hurt but a subsequent X-ray showed he had avoided a fracture.
Manoj Tiwary’s 33 at least helped Kolkata into three figures, but their total of 108 for seven proved inadequate.
Delhi had earlier posted 160 for eight, with Unmukt Chand and Ross Taylor taking 30 from a Lakshmipathy Balaji over en route to respective scores of 40 and 36. Sunil Narine returned 3-21, while Kevin Pietersen contributed 14 from number three.
