Kolkata: David Hussey played a crucial unbeaten knock of 38 to help Kolkata Knight Riders secure a five-wicket win over Deccan Chargers in a close Indian Premier League tie, marred by a power snag, here on Sunday.
Having skittled out the Chargers for a paltry 110 on a poor pitch, the hosts were tottering 21 for three at one stage before Hussey changed the script with an innings, which was a good mix of caution and flamboyance.
Hussey stitched together a 47-run fourth wicket stand with skipper Sourav Ganguly (14) to steady the ship before launching into an all-out assault to ensure his side's second consecutive win, with one over to spare.
The Aussie turned the game the Knight Riders way with his savage attack on Scott Styris in the 18th over, as he plundered a six and a boundary to bring his side close to victory.
Hussey brought up the winning runs with a straightfield six off Pragyan Ojha, after a 31-minute stoppage caused by a power failure.
The low scoring match in a format known for brisk run- rate could be ascribed partly to the strange behaviour of the wicket, which seemed under-prepared and two-paced, making it difficult for the willowers to go for shots.
The hosts innings got off on the wrong note, as Brendon McCullum (5) the destroyer-in-chief on the other day was dismissed cheaply when he lobbed an R P Singh delivery into the hands of Rohit Sharma at backward point.
Then Ricky Ponting was trapped leg before by Sri Lankan veteran Chaminda Vaas without opening his account.
It soon became 21 for 3 as the young Wriddhiman Saha (10) started his long trek back to the dressing room, becoming second victim of Vaas.
Skipper Ganguly and David Hussey then played cautiously as they sought to steady the tottering ship by building up a partnership.
Hussey began the assault in the 11th over, hoiking veteran pacer Sanjay Bangar over the extra cover ropes, before Ganguly also drove the bowler to the mid on pickets.
Andrew Symonds seemed to aid the Knight Riders' cause, as he bowled waywardly in the 12th over, giving as many as five wides.
Ganguly (14) went back in the 13th over, as he went for a huge shot off left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, missed the line and saw his stumps shattered.
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