Date:18/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/18/stories/2008031860132100.htm

Sport - Cricket

Superstars wins a thriller

Principal Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Powered by an aggressive Russel Arnold (65 not out, 40 balls, 6 x 4, 2 x 6), Chennai Superstars recorded its first win in three matches to stay in the race, defeating Kolkata Tigers by four wickets in the Edelweiss 20s Challenge cricket championship at the floodlit Lal Bahadur Stadium here on Monday night.

The tempo was set by openers Ian Harvey, who toyed with the bowling to score 49 (38 balls, 4 x 4, 3 x 6), and Ganapati Vignesh (29, 13 balls, 5 x 4, 1 x 6) as they put on 49 in 4.6 overs.

Controlled hitting

Sri Lankan Arnold, coming in at No. 3, rose to the occasion with a clinical display of controlled hitting. He swung medium-pacer Eklak Ahmed over mid-wicket, and flicked him for a four in one over. Soon, he sent the ball soaring into the stands at mid-on off Craig McMillan.

Even in the last over when the team needed eight off the last four balls off Preetam Das, Arnold scored 2, 2 and then chipped the bowler over short fine-leg to hit the winning boundary.

Splendid recovery

Earlier, Kolkata Tigers roared back from the depths of despair to post 185 for six in the stipulated 20 overs.

At one stage, Tigers was struggling at 14 for three in the third over. But, the New Zealander and captain Craig McMillan had other intentions.

The Kiwi batsman sent the danger signals to the Chennai camp first by slamming fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed over his head for a four, then he whipped T. Kumaran over mid-wicket for a huge six. He turned his attention to left-arm spinner Syed Mohammad hitting two big sixes.

R.C. Satish was also at the receiving end soon as McMillan struck two more sixes in one over but the bowler had the last laugh with a smart piece of work to run out non-striker McMillan (69, 41 balls, 5 x 4, 4 x 6) when he charged too far down the pitch after striker Abhishek tried to push one back past the bowler.

The scores:

Kolkata Tigers 185 for six in 20 overs (A.A. Jhunjhunwala 50 not out, Craig McMillan 69, Vignesh two for 18) lost to Chennai Superstars 187 for six in 19.4 overs (Ian Harvey 49, Russel Arnold 65 not out, Nantie Hayward two for 31).