IPL 4 Match 13: Tendulkar's Century Gives Mumbai Indians v Kochi Tuskers' Chase Thriller

Sachin Tendulkar returned to the Wankhede Stadium with a century that lit the IPL 4 alive. However, the Kochi Tuskers Kerala brought all their might to Mumbai, chasing down the Mumbai Indians' total in thrilling fashion.

brendon mccullum kochi tuskers kerala

Kochi Tuskers Kerala were not really making a name for themselves in the IPL 4 thus far and it seemed that new IPL team had little hope this season. And it seemed that way at half time in the match against the Mumbai Indians after Sachin Tendulkar led the entertainment with a quickfire century opening the innings and batting all the way through.

Davy Jacobs hung around for the Mumbai Indians score to touch sixty-one, but it was the partnership that followed that propelled Mumbai Indians into a strong position. The Mumbai Indians captain, Sachin Tendulkar, led the way with a sparkling century that ignited the excitement for the local fans.

Ambati Rayudu reposed his captain's faith, slamming another half century, fifty-three runs off only thirty-three balls, even as the captain was going great guns himself. Tendulkar was all class, unlike the slog expected in the Twenty20 format and in that there was another gem of an innings unfolding from the maestro.

sachin tendulkar mi captain

When Tendulkar scored his century off the final over off only sixty-six runs, it seemed the Kochi team had been hit by greatness as MI touched 182 runs. Many predicted that Kochi were perhaps not scoring their first IPL points in this match either. But Kochi had other designs to stun the home crowd.

Kochi decided to fight fire with fire. Brendon McCullum and the KTK coach, Mahela Jayawardene, began with gusto and kept the momentum going with panache and punch. That Kochi were on the verge of something special became evident as the Kochi team cross the seventy run mark off just nine overs.

Jayawardene's fifty-six runs off thirty-six balls were just as crucial as the McCullum special for eighty-one runs from sixty balls because that partnership for 128 runs in the first fourteen overs put Kochi in a tremendous position to stun one of the favourites, not to mention strong, teams in the IPL.

McCullum flexed his muscles his style for ten boundaries and a couple of sixes. But it still demanded the dynamism of Brad Hodge and in particular, from Ravindra Jadeja in the end as the run rate began to soar. Needing twenty-seven runs from seventeen balls, Jadeja thwarted Lasith Malinga's attempts to give the Mumbai Indians more than a couple of breakthroughs in the end. Two towering sixes ensured that Kochi finished the game in style, walking away with a strong win against Sachin Tendulkar and the Mumbai Indians, and delighted at their first win in the IPL.