Kolkata: One man's misfortune is the other's opportunity. Mahela Jayawardene made the most of this dictum on Sunday to lead Kings XI Punjab to just their second win in IPL 2010.
Jayawardene (110: 59b, 14x4, 3x6) was not supposed to play the Sunday fixture. He eventually played only because Shaun Marsh injured himself minutes before the game against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Jayawardene notched up his first IPL hundred, the second for Kings XI Punjab, and the 12th of the tournament to star in a famous win.
This hundred by Jayawardene overshadowed a gigantic Chris Gayle (88: 42b, 6x4, 8x6) effort which had the set the stage for a massive chase.
Jayawardene's effort ensured that Kings XI Punjab chased down Kolkata Knight Riders' stiff target of 200 for three in the 19th over.
Jayawardene and his second-wicket partnership with skipper Kumar Sangakkara of 98 runs set the tone for an evening of smiles for the visitors at the Eden Gardens.
Earlier, Sourav Ganguly’s decision to bat first was vindicated after the Knight Riders were off to a rollicking start.
Ganguly was swiftly snapped up by Ravi Bopara after making 36. But his skipper’s absence only seemed to increase Gayle’s resolve. And the momentum swung dramatically from the 13th over onwards when Gayle came into his own.
Ravi Bopara didn’t know what hit him as the powerful West Indian took a fancy to the Englishman’s medium pace. Four sixes from Gayle unsettled Bopara who conceded a further five wides to end up giving away 33 runs in one over – a dubious IPL record.
The Kings simply caved from then on, giving Gayle and Manoj Tiwary complete control. Gayle’s fury finally ended when none other than Bopara hung onto a skier. Manoj Tiwary departed soon after, but David Hussey and Angelo Matthews made sure the Knight Riders set the Kings a daunting target of 201.
In the end, all of Gayle's heroics were not enough as Jayawardene saw Kings XI Punjab home in fine style.
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