Suman, Symonds show keep Deccan in semi-final race

BANGALORE: T Suman (78 not out) played the innings of life while Andrew Symonds gave him the perfect support with a 24-ball 53 cameo as Deccan Chargers beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets to stay afloat for a semi-final berth in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.

Scorecard | Match in pics

Chasing a competitive 184, Suman came up with runs when it mattered most for his team and shared an unbeaten 46-ball 91-run fourth-wicket stand with Symonds as the title holders overhauled the target comfortably with four balls to spare.

Suman bejeweled his innings with six fours and three sixes while Symonds blitzkrieg included five boundaries and three huge hits over the fence.

Earlier Jacques Kallis (68) and Virat Kohli (58) put on a 52-ball 95 runs fifth wicket partnership to power Royal Challengers Bangalore to 184 for six.

With this win, Deccan took their points tally to eight from ten contests while the defeat saw RCB stagnate at ten points from as many matches.

It was also RCB's second successive defeat, while Deccan returned back to winning after five consecutive loses.

Deccan did not have the perfect start to their run chase as they lost their opener Monish Mishra in the third over with just 11 runs on the board.

Skipper Adam Gilchrist (32 off 19) and Suman, however, kept the Hyderabad side in the hunt, sharing 77 runs for the second wicket that came in just 8.3 overs.

But the whole scenario changed within just seven runs as Deccan lost two crucial wickets -- Gilchrist and Rohit Sharma -- to find themselves in a spot of bother.

Gilchrist's 19-ball essay was cut short by Kumble who foxed him with a googly and Robin Uthappa did the rest behind the stumps.

As if that blow was not enough, five balls later Rohit Sharma (6) gave away a straight forward catch to Dale Steyn off R Vinay Kumar to compound their problems.

But it was not to be Bangalore's day as Suman and Andrew Symonds milked the Deccan bowlers with caution and set the platform for the comfortable victory with some sensible hitting.

Needing 49 off the last four overs, first Symonds opened up, hitting Praveen Kumar for a four and six and then Suman joined the party clobbering the medium pacer straight over his head to pile up 21 runs.

Symonds clobbered R Vinay Kumar for a six and then followed it up with a boundary in the next ball to drew curtains to their run chase in style.

For RCB Praveen and Kumble picked up a wicket each, giving away 37 and 38 runs respectively.

Earlier sent into bat, Kallis continued his purple patch and scored 68 in 44 balls while Kohli produced the acceleration towards the end, making the fifty plus innings in just 35 deliveries to guide RCB to the big score, especially after they were struggling at 68 for four at one stage.

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (2/24) and Ryan Harris (2/37) were the notable wicket-takers for Deccan.

From the time he stepped in, Kohli knew nothing about pressure and took the fight into the Deccan camp.

He virtually butchered the Deccan attack, taking 23 runs off an Andrew Symonds over to begin the late innings mayhem. Left-arm pacer RP Singh too bled as Kohli went berserk during his 35-ball blitzkrieg which overshadowed Kallis' belligerence.

Kallis designed his innings with nine fours and a six before he feel to a superb running catch by Harris off Mitchell Marsh.

Kohli struck four sixes and as many boundaries before holing out to Symonds at long on off Harris in search of quick runs.

Kohli's seemed in a destructive mood and together with Kallis, he tore apart the Deccan attack to pile up 92 runs off the last six overs.

Ojha bowled intelligently for Deccan and accounted for Rahul Dravid (26) and Ross Taylor (1) to emerge as the highest wicket-taker in IPL 3 with 15 scalps.

Cameron White drew curtains to the Deccan innings in style, hitting back-to-back sixes off Harris in last two balls of the final over.

Woods exceeds expectations on Masters return

AUGUSTA, Georgia: An astounded Tiger Woods exceeded his own expectations in his first tournament for almost five months as veteran Fred Couples charged into a one-shot lead in the US Masters first round on Thursday.

Disgraced world number one Woods, welcomed back from self-imposed exile by cheering crowds at Augusta National, soared into contention with two eagles on the way to a four-under-par 68 to lie two strokes off the pace.

"It's unbelievable," Woods told reporters after breaking 70 for the first time in the opening round at Augusta in his 16th Masters appearance. "I would think that a couple under par would have been probably a pretty good start.

"Everybody seemed to go low today and there are 30-plus guys under par. So the golf course, even though it was windy, it could be had today. If I putted well today, it could have been a really special round."

Asked about his rousing reception by the fans, Woods replied, "It was unbelievable all day. I haven't heard them cheer this loud in all my years here."

While the 14-times major winner drew the day's biggest gallery, 1992 champion Couples fired a sizzling 66 in breezy conditions to take command of the year's opening major.

Maintaining the loose-limbed form that has swept him to victories in his last three starts on the seniors tour, the 50-year-old American birdied four of the last seven holes to break clear of the field.

On a gripping day featuring sudden weather changes and electric displays by several former champions, 60-year-old Tom Watson defied his age to share second place on 67 with fellow American Phil Mickelson, Britain's Lee Westwood and South Koreans Yang Yong-eun and KJ Choi.

American Anthony Kim birdied the last three holes for a 68, finishing level with compatriots Woods, Nick Watney and Ricky Barnes, and British world number seven Ian Poulter.

The main focus amid the Georgian pines and heavily contoured layout was on four-times champion Woods, who looked remarkably composed as he started one of the most eagerly anticipated rounds of all time under intense scrutiny.

Despite not having competed since winning the Australian Masters on Nov. 15 following stunning revelations about his extra-marital affairs, he raced to the turn in three-under following two birdies, a bogey and an eagle at the eighth where he coaxed in a curling eight-footer.

Woods, who tipped his cap to the supportive crowds on every hole and repeatedly said "thank you," bogeyed 10 and 14 but comfortably birdied 13 before rolling in a nine-footer to eagle the par-five 15th.

The 34-year-old, who had never before recorded two eagles in one round at Augusta, raised his putter in celebration before lipping out with a four-foot birdie attempt at the last.

With his ball-striking in impeccable form despite his length break, Woods is well positioned in his bid to become the first player to launch his season with a major victory since fellow American Ben Hogan clinched the 1953 Masters.

Under leaden skies, the galleries were packed at least five deep all the way down the opening hole to watch the world number one start what media experts predict will be the biggest single day television audience for a U.S. golf event.

WARM SMILE While the world number one had to be feeling a little anxious, he offered a warm smile as he shook hands with playing partners Choi and American Matt Kuchar on the first tee.

The official starter announced: "On the tee, Tiger Woods," prompting loud cheering by fans crammed on either side of the fairway in front of the imposing clubhouse at Augusta.

There were calls of "Go Tiger" and "We love you Tiger," not a hint of heckling and plenty of hooting and hollering in the loudest applause the world number one has received all week.

While Woods began his opening round in strengthening winds, eight-times major winner Watson was putting the finishing touches to a vintage display.

Watson, who came agonisingly close to the most remarkable major victory of all time before losing the 2009 British Open at Turnberry in a playoff, rolled in a five-footer to birdie the last before throwing his arm skywards.

"I did what I had to do today and took advantage of some of the holes that you could take advantage of," Watson said.

Watson's trip down Memory Lane was eclipsed late in the afternoon by Couples, who has long regarded the Masters as the biggest event in golf.

"The Champions Tour has been a lot of fun, but this is where I really want to play well," Couples said. "Today was as good a round as I've ever played here."

Day in Pics: April 8 LIVERPOOL, England: Fernando Torres fired Liverpool into the Europa League semifinals as Thursday's 4-1 win against Benfica clin

NEW DELHI: There seems to be more trouble for Kings XI Punjab as sources have confirmed to TIMES NOW that the Punjab franchisee could be up for sale.

Sources said that three owners are interested in discussions of selling their stakes.

Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman and Karan Paul are interested in selling their stake off. Meanwhile, co-owner Preity Zinta is very keen on staying on board with the team.

Mohit Burman, one of the co-owners, who spoke to TIMES NOW doesn't rule out selling his stake if approached.

Torres double leads Liverpool into semifinals

LIVERPOOL, England: Fernando Torres fired Liverpool into the Europa League semifinals as Thursday's 4-1 win against Benfica clinched a 5-3 aggregate triumph over the Portuguese club.

Rafael Benitez's side trailed 2-1 from the quarter-final first leg in Lisbon last week, but two goals in seven minutes from Dirk Kuyt and Lucas erased that deficit before half-time at Anfield.

Torres added a third goal in the second half before Oscar Cardozo's free-kick put Benfica within one goal of going through on away goals.

Just as Liverpool were getting nervous, Torres struck again in the closing stages to set up a semi-final with Atletico Madrid as the Reds continue their bid for a first major European trophy since the 2005 Champions League.

Benitez said: "It was a good game and because the other team was very good you can say four goals was a fantastic performance, but I think we have played better this season."

Benfica coach Jorge Jesus added: "Our player was fouled inside the area (for the first goal) and that was the point. The first goal had some influence on the result but Liverpool have an excellent team and deserved their victory."

After a spluttering season marred by underachievement in the Premier League and Champions League, this was exactly the sort of result Benitez needed.

He made a very public attempt this week to force Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to give him substantial funds to improve the squad by hinting he had taken the current team as far as he could.

But, with a fourth place finish in the league still far from certain, Benitez's hopes of having his wish granted would be improved if he can win the Europa League.

Liverpool's arch rivals Manchester United had failed to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday but, faced with the same task 24 hours later, Benitez's side made a far better fist of the job.

After an uninspiring start, Liverpool took the lead in controversial circumstances in the 27th minute.

When Steven Gerrard curled over an inswinging corner, Kuyt was virtually on the goal line as he stood next to Benfica goalkeeper Julio Cesar before stepping away to head home from close-range.

Kuyt sprinted off in celebration but it initially seemed the goal had been ruled out for offside. However, after consulting with his linesman, Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers allowed the effort to stand, much to the consternation of the Benfica players who surrounded the official to protest.

The goal gave Liverpool a major surge of adrenaline and the hosts increased their advantage in the 34th minute.

Gerrard clipped a pass towards Lucas and the Brazilian midfielder timed his run perfectly to beat Benfica's offside trap before rounding Cesar and slotting into the empty net for his first goal since May 2009.

Benitez's decision to substitute Torres during the second half of Saturday's draw at Birmingham drew an angry response from fans and pundits, but the Spanish coach insisted it was essential to rest his star striker's knee injury.

And it was Torres who put Liverpool within touching distance of the last four as he capped a superb counter-attack in the 59th minute.

Javier Mascherano broke from deep inside Liverpool's half after a Benfica free-kick was cleared and the Argentine spread a pass out to Yossi Benayoun on the left wing.

Benayoun drove towards the Benfica area before picking out Kuyt, who whipped a low cross for Torres to gleefully slot past Cesar.

Cardozo caused Liverpool hearts to flutter when he smashed a low free-kick past Jose Reina in the 70th minute.

That was the signal for Benfica to pour forward and Cardozo nearly stole the tie for the visitors when another free-kick deflected just wide off Torres.

But Torres ended Benfica's resistence in the 82nd minute when he ran onto Mascherano's pass and chipped a delightful finish over substitute goalkeeper Moreira.

Team Kochi in trouble over 'secret partners'?

NEW DELHI: IPL action off the field is often more dramatic and suspenseful than the matches themselves. That’s certainly how it’s turning out for the consortium of businessmen that bagged the Kochi franchise. Even before it could set about building a team, the franchisee ran into trouble with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which returned the agreement papers.

IPL sources claimed the Kochi franchisee reportedly gave 25% of its shareholding for life to some unknown entities, free of cost when it has itself bid almost Rs 1,500 crore to obtain the franchise. The sources told TOI the consortium has been asked to present its case and sign the agreement, mentioning all its partners, in Mumbai by Monday.

However, sources in the Kochi camp denied that any such transfer of stake had taken place. They also insisted that they would submit the agreement papers to BCCI on Friday itself.

IPL sources told TOI, ‘‘BCCI has been confidentially told that a minister, a former India captain and a cricketer who’s currently playing for India are also part of the consortium. Their names should also figure in the agreement document’’.

‘‘This free equity business will have to be investigated and that is why the Kochi team’s agreement has been returned. We hope the owners come clean on this. If there are seven partners or eight parties involved, let them come out in the open and sign the document. We have no problem,’’ a top BCCI official, who didn’t wish to be named, told TOI.

The CEO of the Kochi franchisee, Shailendra Gaikwad, denied any such differences with the board. ‘‘I am not aware of such an event,’’ he said.

However, other sources from the Kochi camp said that these were just ‘‘delaying tactics’’. ‘‘We have won the Kochi team fair and square and we are very serious about going ahead with it,’’ they said.

Rajasthan take on Deccan in IPL's battle for survival

NAGPUR: Placed in the bottom heap of the points table, Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers will be fighting a desperate battle of survival when they take on each other in the Indian Premier League here on Monday.

Their semifinal hopes fading, neither Rajasthan nor Deccan cannot afford to lose from here on.

Deccan have lost four matches on the trot and the downward spiral was incidentally triggered by the defeat against Rajasthan on March 26.

Rajasthan, on the other hand, were on a four-match winning streak before losing two successive games to lie sixth on the table, a rung ahead of Deccan.

Rajasthan, however, have been bolstered by the joining in of Australian import Shane Watson.

The all-rounder, who was the IPL's most valuable player in the inaugural year, played out a blazing 60-run knock in his first match of the ongoing season.

Although for a losing cause, his batting last night against the Chennai Super Kings showed how much he added to Rajasthan's rather brittle line-up, which has been relying too much on another all-rounder Yusuf Pathan's power-hitting.

On the bowling front, the pacers -- especially Shaun Tait -- have come a cropper as was proved by the thrashing that Chennai Super Kings handed out to them last night.

Skipper Shane Warne hasn't managed to bowl as well as he would have liked. The legendary spinner has taken just one wicket in four matches at an average of 90. He is currently at the bottom of the bowlers' chart for this season.

Led by Warne's former team-mate Adam Gilchrist, Deccan Chargers, on the other hand, have been undone by their batting, which has been relying too heavily on the skipper.

The dip in Gilchrist's form is reflecting in the team's performance as well and though Andrew Symonds is doing reasonably well, the failure of the likes of Herschelle Gibbs and the inconsistency of Rohit Sharma is proving costly for the side time and again.

Deccan's bowling was never their strength and once the batsmen fail, they too fail to contain or dismiss the opponents.

Pacer RP Singh has been off-colour and old war horse Chaminda Vaas is not the threat he used to be in his prime.

The team compositions make Rajasthan a favourite yet again but if Gilchrist strikes form, Deccan might extract revenge for the previous loss.

Cops quiz Shoaib for two hours at Sania's house, seize passport

HYDERABAD: Police on Monday seized the passport of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik as they questioned him in the wake of a complaint lodged against him by the father of a local girl Ayesha Siddiqui.

But 28-year-old Shoaib told police, at the Jubilee Hills residence of 23-year-old tennis star Sania Mirza, that he had been tricked into marriage with Ayesha.

"The city police have questioned Shoaib Malik for one-and-a-half hours and they have also seized his passport. Immigration authorities have been informed about the case filed against Malik and his passport seizure," Additional Commissioner of Police (Coordination) Dwarka Tirumala Rao said.

Rao said, "As part of the investigation, a police team visited Sania's residence today. We are probing the matter."

"We are trying to collect evidence. Shoaib is cooperating and Sania is supporting him. They say they know the truth behind the whole issue," a police official said after the team talked to the cricketer.

During questioning, Shoaib told the police that he had been "cheated" by the Siddiqui family and tricked into marriage, he said.

On Sunday, the Pakistani cricketer had claimed that he was emotionally forced into the 'nikahnama' with the Hyderabad girl but said the marriage was invalid as her family had cheated him and ruled out divorce.

He said to this day he has not met the girl whose photographs were sent to him by the Siddiqui family purported to be that of Ayesha.

The charges against Shoaib are that of harassment of Ayesha, cheating to marry another girl and criminal intimidation including threats to her to keep quiet, according to Hyderabad Police commissioner AK Khan.

Ayesha's father in his complaint, which was lodged hours after Shoaib on Sunday confirmed his marriage with Sania, had accused the Pakistani cricketer of cheating his daughter.

The Banjara Hills police said that a case under Sections 420 (cheating), 498-A (dowry harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC has been registered against Shoaib and they will take up the investigation after verifying facts of the complaint.

Khan said an FIR has been made out and it would be followed by collection of evidence and taking legal advice since Shoaib is a Pakistani national.

"The Banjara Hills police have received a complaint by Ayesha Siddiqui against Shoaib Malik. We have registered a case against Shoaib. Now we will take legal opinion quickly before taking further action," Rao had said.

He said there were some legal complications involved in the case and they "will have to examine whether a foreigner committing an offence on a foreign soil comes under the purview of IPC or not".

"The legal opinion will be taken quickly and we will proceed further as the marriage is on April 15," he added.

Delhi Daredevils beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 37 runs

NEW DELHI: Paul Collingwood struck a breezy 46-ball 75 before bowlers wrecked havoc as Delhi Daredevils inched closer towards booking a semi-final berth beating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 37 runs in their Indian Premier League match on Sunday night.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

Openers Virender Sehwag (35) and David Warner (33) set the tone but it was Collingwood's blitzkrieg, bejewelled with three fours and seven sixes, that catapulted Daredevils to a competitive 184 for five after the home team skipper Gautam Gambhir opted to bat first.

The hosts then put up a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Bangalore to 147 for nine to keep their slate clean against the Anil Kumble-led side and moved one place up to the second spot in points tally.

Spinner Amit Mishra and paceman Pradeep Sangwan picked up three wickets each giving away 32 and 22 runs respectively, while Farveez Maharoof, Daniel Vettori and Rajat Bhatia accounted for one wicket apiece at Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium.

South African Jacques Kallis picked up his fifth fifty of IPL 3 but his 42-ball 54 was not enough as the Bangalore outfit lost wickets at regular intervals and was left to do the catch up act after a slow start to their run-chase.

Chasing 185 to win, Bangalore rushed to 25 in three overs after Kallis slammed two fours in the first over and picked up a couple more in the next two overs.

But opener Cameron White's (4) wicket in the fourth over put brakes on the RCB innings as Kallis and Kevin Pietersen picked up ones and twos to build up the innings.

However, Sangwan's yorker cleaned up Pietersen as RCB slumped to 52 for two in 9.2 overs.

Kallis and Robin Uthappa then tried to break the shackles and picked up a couple of sixes off Daniel Vettori in the 11th over, but Warner took a stunning catch to get rid off Uthappa in the next over.

Needing 105 off 45 balls, Ross Taylor walloped three sixes -- two over mid-wicket and one over square-leg -- to take Bangalore to 105 for three in 14 overs.

But Taylor's 10-ball 22 innings was cut short by Bhatia when he had the New Zealander trapped in front of the wickets.

Kallis also perished in the very next over giving a simple catch to Collinwood.

Needing 79 off 34 balls, Virat Kohli (13), Vinay Kumar (3), Rahul Dravid (14) and Abhimanyu Mithun (5) tried their bit but it was not enough.

Earlier, Collingwood's innings helped the home team gather a healthy total in 20 overs as the Englishman completed his second IPL 3 half-century.

Sehwag gave Delhi a blistering start as only fours and sixes flew from his bat. The India opener took the bowlers to the cleaners and blasted five fours and two sixes during his 22-ball cameo.

After a silent first over off Kumble, which yielded just two runs, Sehwag slammed two fours in the second over off Vinay Kumar. The swashbuckling batsman then biffed Kumble for two fours and a six in his second over.

New bowler Mithun was pumped into the attack and straight away he was introduced with a six by Sehwag but the lanky pacer had the last laugh as he castled him in the next ball and Delhi lost its first wicket in fifth over.

Gambhir then stepped in the middle but his journey was cut short by a brilliant piece of fielding by debutant KP Appanna as Delhi slipped to 52 for two in 5.4 overs.

Collingwood and Warner then added 31 runs for the third-wicket partnership. Warner was most destructive as he plundered consecutive sixes off Appanna in the ninth over before being removed by Kumble in the next over.

Karthik marked his arrival with a four off Kumble but White took a blinder two balls later in Appanna's over to dismiss the right-hander as Delhi slumped to 90 for four in 10.3 overs.

However, Collingwood held the other end and clobbered two sixes and a four off White to take Delhi to 111 for four in 12 overs.

New batsman Kedar Jadhav (7) was the next to go two overs later, when he was found short of the crease by wicketkeeper Uthappa.

Collingwood, on the other side, kept clobbering the Bangalore bowlers and sent Kumble out of the park in the 17th over to complete his half-century.

Vettori, playing his first match this year, scored 19 off 17 balls to the end of the innings.

Media is behaving like moral police: Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh is not new to controversies. His flamboyance and partying ways have often created a flutter. He never cared. But the reported 'rift' in his Kings XI Punjab team and allegations of 'under-performance' have left him fuming. In a free-wheeling chat with Makarand Waingankar, the dashing southpaw clears the air on some of them. Excerpts...

What's this controversy about you not getting along well with Sangakkara and the rift in the Kings XI Punjab team?

(Laughs) I have played enough to know how things get nicely publicized. Usually when the team is expected to do well but for some reason falls below expectation, disgruntled elements indulge in character assassination. Frankly speaking, it's not the job of a cricketer to get up in the morning, read sensational stuff about oneself and go on clarifying.

But why not clarify once in a while?

I will have to employ a secretary because some sort of glamour is attached to my personality. I am told that when India won in England in 1971 there was a motorcade in Mumbai and three years later when they lost, people threw stones at captain (Ajit) Wadekar's house. So there's nothing new about sensational stories which have damaged enough careers.

Looks like your owners aren't happy with you...

Do you mean to say only because Yuvraj isn't scoring, my team is losing? Players of some of the other teams too aren't performing. Had they performed, their teams wouldn't have suffered heavy defeats but to the media Yuvraj is a whipping boy. If the media is happy doing what it's doing, I don't have the resources and time to stop them. A cricketer's job is to perform consistently. If I had not performed, do you think I would have been playing international cricket for so long?

So you feel media is a spoilsport?

That's for people in the media to introspect. They are behaving like moral police. Are they an authority on everything? They keep speculating about my private life and then they expect me to cooperate with them. If sensational stuff helps them make good business so be it. I guess credibility of some of them is at a discount. But there are quite a few in the media who command respect because of their responsible work.

Do you think you indulging in late night parties is creating problems?

Am I the only one enjoying parties? Are others in 'early to bed and early to rise' category? So when I don't get runs, I am a bad boy. And when I attend a party but still get runs then I am a good boy. Don't underestimate the modern generation. They know what they are doing. Look at the Indian team, we are a happy bunch of performers. We are No. 1.

Is it true that your wrist injury has contributed to you not getting runs?

May be to some extent. But which international cricketer worth his salt would like to damage his reputation by not performing? I have been suffering from hand injuries for the past one year. Something or the other is happening.

You went to Australia for treatment. What did the doctor say?

He said I should gradually get into playing and I would be OK but I hardly got to do that before the IPL.

What about your Yuvraj Singh Foundation?

(Laughs) Thank you for asking. Sometime I too do some charity work and spend time with kids who need love and affection. The foundation takes care of over 200 underprivilged chidren and has organized many events. The smile I see on their faces makes me very happy. I am a part of the society and I do owe something to the society.

When do we get to watch a fit Yuvraj entertaining the viewers?

Give me some time and I will be back in form.

Jayawardene ton helps Kings XI Punjab stun Kolkata Knight Riders

KOLKATA: Mahela Jayawardene cracked an unbeaten 59-ball 110 to power Kings XI Punjab to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in a high-scoring IPL match on Sunday.

Scorecard

Chasing a stiff 201 for a win, Kings XI were never under pressure with Jayawardene playing a blistering innings which had 14 boundaries and three sixes in it as the visitors romped home with 10 balls to spare.

Jayawardene's unbeaten century, the fourth in IPL 3, overshadowed a 42-ball 88 from Kolkata Knight Riders' opener Chris Gayle after the home side opted to bat first at the Eden Gardens.

The Sri Lankan, who was sent out to open with Manvinder Bisla, was though dropped when on 80.

Yuvraj Singh's cameo of 16-ball 33, which was laced with two fours and three sixes, gave the final push in the run chase of Kings XI who notched up 204 for two in 18.2 overs. Captain Kumar Sangakkara chipped in with a 22-ball 38.

Earlier, a hurricane 42-ball 88 from Chris Gayle powered Kolkata Knight Riders to 200 for three, their highest IPL 3 total.

With this win, Kings XI snapped their harrowing four-match losing streak and recorded their second win in nine matches though their semifinal hopes were virtually over.

For KKR, it was their fifth loss in nine matches, though they are still in contention for a semifinal spot.

With Jayawardene was at his best, Kings XI Punjab began the run chase without any pressure.

He found boundaries and sixes with ease and never really seemed to be bogged down by pressure both from the high required run-rate and the boisterous Eden crowd supporting the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Home team captain Sourav Ganguly kept on rotating his bowlers but without any luck. There was a difficult chance in the fourth over off the bowling off rookie pacer Jaydev Unadkat when Bisla edged one but it was out of reach of Wriddhiman Saha's dive.

Bisla however did not last long as he was bowled by Murali Kartik in the very next over. Punjab were 51 for one after 4.5 overs then but Jayawardene remained undeterred as he along with captain Sangakkara kept scoring at a healthy run-rate.

Jayawardene took 17 runs off Gayle's first over -- and sixth of KKR -- by smashing the West Indian for two boundaries and a six to keep up the tempo.

With his Lankan skipper giving a fine support at the other end, Jayawardene kept on scoring runs at ease. He completed his half-century from 26 balls with six fours and two sixes.

KKR managed to break the 98-run all-Lankan second wicket partnership when fast bowler Shane Bond dismissed Sangakkara for 38 in the 14th over but it was too late by then with the visitors needing just over eight runs per over for a victory with eight wickets in hand.

Sangakkara had two fours and as many sixes in his 22-ball 38.

With just 52 needed from 38 balls when Yuvraj came in at the fall of Sangakkara, it was just a formality for Kings XI.

Yuvraj ensured that Kings XI finished their job in quick time as he hit a flurry of fours and sixes though it was Jayawardene who scored the winning run, a four off rookie left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat.

All the seven KKR bowlers leaked runs. Bond and Kartik took one wicket apiece by conceding 32 and 41 runs respectively from four overs each.

Earlier, Gayle smashed eight sixes and six fours in his blistering knock of 88 to power KKR to 200 for three.

The West Indies opener and Manoj Tiwary (35 from 32 balls) added 101 runs for the second wicket, while captain Sourav Ganguly chipped in with a 31-ball 36.

KKR's previous highest in IPL 3 was also against the Punjab side when they scored 183 for five for a winning cause in Mohali.

Having opted to rest big-hitting Kiwi opener Brendon McCullum, who joined the squad on Saturday, KKR began positively with Ganguly looking in his silken touch.

Continuing from where he left in the last match, Ganguly hardly took any time to settle down and found his sweet timing with boundaries flowing from his blade.

He hit two boundaries in the first over bowled by Irfan Pathan and went on to launch Shalabh Srivastava for a four and then a big clean six over his head.

Gayle, on the other hand, rotated the strike as the opening duo scored 46 from the first five overs, going more than nine runs per over.

But just when Ganguly looked ominous his innings was cut short by Ravi Bopara, who bowled an excellent first over and his side's eighth to reduce KKR to 56 for one. Ganguly hit five fours and a six in his knock.

Ganguly's wicket slowed down the pace of KKR scoring as Manoj Tiwary, elevated to number three, took some time to settle down.

If first five overs yielded 46 runs, only 23 runs came from the next five overs and Kings XI Punjab looked like making a comeback.

But soon Gayle-force hit the Eden with a helpless Bopara at the receiving end, conceding 33 runs from his third over.

Gayle plundered four consecutive sixes in the 13th over bowled by Bopara with two of them falling at L block debris of the Eden as the ball went missing and had to be changed twice.

The West Indian cruised to his fifty from 30 balls as Bopara was smashed to 3-0-43-0 with Knight Riders 122 for one after the productive 13th over.

Tiwary played intelligently giving the strikes to Gayle who continued his big-hitting ways as Punjab struggled on the field and a spilled catch by Piyush Chawla when the West Indian was on 80 did not help Kings XI's cause.

The ominous-looking Gayle hit two sixes of Chawla in the 15th over before he was dismissed by Juan Theron in the next over.