Marsh and Kumar Sangakkara Played Classy Opening

Shaun Marsh and Kumar Sangakkara were involved in a classy opening stand that ensured a six-wicket victory for Mohali against Hyderabad in their Indian Premier League IPL match at the PCA Stadium here on Friday. The left handed pair recorded the fastest half century by a team 3.5 overs in the tournament and their 84-run stand provided the buffer to chase down a target of 176 with ease in a match of little consequence as they had virtually qualified for the semifinals before this match and Hyderabad were already out of contention. Promising Aussie batsman Marsh notched up his fifth half-century a 46-ball knock of 60 seeing him smash three sixes and as many fours. For a change Marsh was content playing second fiddle to Sangakkara, who notched up the second fastest fifty of the tournament taking two balls more than Jaipur all rounder Yusuf Pathans record of 21 deliveries and the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman played quite a few inside-out shots in his seven fours and two sixes. Sangakkara was caught at long off to part time spinner Rohit Sharma. Yuvraj Singh was also caught in the deep a little later and the wickets of Marsh and Luke Pomersbach 13 saw the team slip to 149-4. Just when the pressure seemed to be creeping up Piyush Chawla eased it with a six off the first ball of the 19th over bowled by Scott Styris who later in the over bowled a full toss down the leg side for Mahela Jayawardene to dispatch with ease over the square leg boundary and virtually seal the win which finally came with three balls to spare. Earlier Rohit Sharma capitalised on a fluent opening partnership between Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs to help Hyderabad set a challenging 176-run target. Sharma continued his superb run slamming a quick-fire 50 that was spiced with four sixes and three fours and came off just 27 deliveries. Sharma who plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket once took 21 runs off an over from Gagandeep Singh, including two well timed sixes. Sharmas blitz followed a superb start from openers Adam Gilchrist 50 and Herschelle Gibbs 44 who figured in a brisk 79 run stand that formed the bedrock for a total of 175-4. Gibbs used his feet well during a 34-ball 44 hitting three fours and three sixes twice dancing down the pitch to leg-spinner Piyush Chawla hoisting him over long on and straight to the sight screen. He also once smashed three consecutive fours off Sreesanth. Gibbs fell to pace bowler Gagandeep Singh while trying a pull but his partner Gilchrist continued to dominate. The Aussie left hander struck six fours and a six off Yuvraj during his third fifty of the tournament. He was bowled playing across the line to Ramesh Powar after having just been let off on the previous delivery by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara off the spinner. Mohali had virtually ensured a semifinal berth after a thrilling one run victory over Mumbai in their previous match with eight wins in 11 matches while Hyderabad were already out of reckoning before this match with just two wins in as many outings. Sangakkara was back for Mohali while Gagandeep replaced Irfan Pathan. Hyderabad brought back Sanjay Bangar and Gibbs. In their previous match Marsh 84 not out had ensured a comfortable seven wicket win for Mohali.

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