Sensational Dada

Sensational Dada leads from the front, decimates Chargers

An inspirational performance by skipper Sourav Ganguly saw the Knight Riders fight their way back into contention for a semifinal spot with an impressive win against the Deccan Chargers at Hyderabad.

After slamming 91 of 57 deliveries to power the team to a total of 204, he then bowled four tidy overs and grabbed two wickets, and took two catches to dismiss the Chargers' two most dangerous batsmen. Man of the Match? No contest.

Ganguly batted like the Dada of old, displaying all his experience and skill. He played some imperious strokes, freeing his arms and clearing the boundaries in his inimitable style. There were also delicious drives through the off side, and even a couple of pulled sixes to complete a top-class batting display. Young Pragyan Ojha was taken to the cleaners, never being allowed to settle. Scott Styris was hit for consecutive sixes. When Ganguly finally left, holing out to long on, it was with a wry smile and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Of course, the immaculate David Hussey was on the ball, as always. He slammed a 29-ball 57 not out towards the end of the innings and pushed the total over 200. Aakash Chopra played his part, ensuring that no more wickets fell after the early loss of Salman Butt. Laxmi Rattan Shukla biffed a few around the park in the end overs. The Hyderabad team also had a woeful day in the field, dropping catches, conceding runs and giving away overthrows. The fielding cost them about twenty runs by a generous estimate –&෧ crucial in the final analysis.

Ashok Dinda and Ishant Sharma began well, before Adam Gilchrist threatened to take the game away. Dinda, however, effectively ended the Chargers' hopes by taking out their three best batsmen - Herschelle Gibbs, Gilchrist and Rohit Sharma on his way to figures of 3 for 33. Ganguly was miserly and accurate, outwitting Scott Styris and Sanjay Bangar. Umar Gul struck of his very first ball, and Shukla bowled steadily at the death. Only Y.Venugopal Rao showed any resistance, hammering an unbeaten 71 of 42 deliveries with six sixes, but it wasn't enough in the end.

If the Knight Riders can continue with this form, they can clinch the semifinal spot that they covet. They stand fourth now in the points table, and, with Ganguly finding inspirational form and the bowling looking good, seem well placed to notch up more victories.