Hodge heroics in vain for Kolkata

Brad Hodge pulls during his unbeaten 70 which was not enough to stave off defeat

Australia’s Brad Hodge hit a fine unbeaten 70 for Kolkata Knight Riders but their dismal run in the Indian Premier League continued as King’s XI Punjab beat them by six wickets off the last ball of the match.

India all-rounder Irfan Pathan hit four off the last delivery to seal the points.

Hodge’s innings was matched in elegance by former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene, who compiled 52 not out in response.

Batting first, Hodge played a majestic innings to ease Kolkata to 153 for three, with a series of fluent strokes taking him to a 36-ball fifty.

He faced 43 deliveries, helping himself to 10 boundaries and one massive six.

Hodge hit Pathan for 15 from five balls of the final over, before Merwe van Wyk carted the last delivery, a thigh-high full toss, brutally into the stands.

The innings had started in less than explosive fashion for the Knight Riders, with the usually domineering Brendon McCullum putting in a subdued knock of 19 from 31 balls.

The big-hitting Kiwi was eventually put out of his misery by the impressive Piyush Chawla, who returned two for 27.

Chris Gayle, who delayed his arrival in England for the West Indies tour to play in the match, fared slightly better with a fluent run-a-ball 17 but he will be disappointed with the half-hit drive which accounted for him.

Sourav Ganguly (22) came to the crease and promptly lifted Chawla over the ropes with a massive hit over mid-wicket but was caught by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara attempting a repeat.

Hodge and van Wyk (18no) then put on 48 in the last four overs in serene fashion.

Chris Gayle falls to Yusuf Abdullah in his final 2009 IPL game which delayed his arrival in England ahead of the first Test

King’s XI got off to the worst possible start, losing Sri Lanka star Sangakkara for a duck with just one run on the scoreboard.

Ishant Sharma was the bowler, asking the question with a quick, short delivery and seeing the opener mis-time his attempted pull to be caught by van Wyk.

Sunny Sohal almost followed him to the pavilion in the next over, only to be dropped off successive balls - the first a return attempt to Ashok Dinda, the second a poor effort by Wriddhiman Saha.

Gayle then joined in with a fumble of his own, shelling Simon Katich at slip.

The price soon became a heavy one as Sohal and Katich smashed three maximums in Dinda’s next over.

Sohal was dropped once more before falling to Agit Agarkar for 25, including three sixes.

Katich had 34 when Hodge got lucky with a full toss which the Australia opener smashed straight to Saha.

Jayawardene (52no) took over the task of milking the Kolkata attack, though and it was his expert knock - with seven of his 41 deliveries being sent to the boundary - which set up the win.

Pathan was left with the scores level and one ball to face but he reacted coolly, fetching Agarkar for four through square leg.