Newcomers upset Tendulkar's Mumbai

MUMBAI, India (AP):Sachin Tendulkar struck his maiden Twenty20 century yesterday, but the world's best batsman couldn't stop his Mumbai Indians side going down to a surprise eight-wicket loss to new franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the Indian Premier League.

New Zealander Brendon McCullum struck a magnificent 81 off 60 balls to lead Kochi to their first IPL win. McCullum produced a counter-attacking knock with 10 fours and two sixes to help Kochi past its target of 183 with six balls remaining.

Ravindra Jadeja (25) brought up the winning runs with sixes off successive deliveries off left-arm spinner Ali Murtaza as he shared in a 28-run unbroken stand for the third wicket with Australian Brad Hodge (11) to cap a remarkable chase after pacer Lasith Malinga dismissed the openers.

Earlier in Jaipur, Jacques Kallis and Gautam Gambhir struck 50s to lead Kolkata Knight Riders to a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals.

thrilling chase

Tendulkar was playing at his home ground for the first time since winning the World Cup final with India, and his 100 not out helped the hosts post a commanding 182-2 after being asked to bat first.

However, man-of-the-match McCullum, who had hit a 73-ball 158 in the inaugural edition of the competition in 2008, put on 128 for the opening wicket with the skipper, Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene, in a thrilling chase in the night match.

Tendulkar hit 12 fours and three sixes and put on 61 for the opening wicket with South African Davy Jacobs (12) and a second straight century partnership for the first wicket with Ambati Rayudu (53) to put the hosts in command.

But his effort could not prevent the team's first defeat in three matches of the new season as the brilliant McCullum changed the script.

In Jaipur, South African Kallis hit 80 from 65 balls for his third half-century in as many innings and skipper Gambhir lashed an aggressive 44-ball 75 as the pair put on 152 for the unbroken second wicket to help their side to a second win in three matches.

Knight Riders made 160-1 with nine deliveries remaining after the Royals posted a challenging 159-4 in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first.

Opening the innings, Rahul Dravid struck a controlled 35 to anchor the Royals to 78-1 by the 12th over. However, off-spinner Yusuf Pathan promptly applied the brakes by bowling the Indian Test batsman and then dismissing Ashok Menaria, caught and bowled, for 27 in his only over.

New Zealander Ross Taylor hit a 25-ball 35 not out with two fours and as many sixes, putting on 45 for the fourth wicket with Shane Watson. The Australian struck 22 from just 13 deliveries with two sixes before being bowled by Shakib Al Hasan, becoming the Bangladesh left-arm spinner's second wicket.

Knight Riders lost Manvinder Bisla early, run out for one, but left-handed Gambhir joined Kallis as the experienced pair tore into the Royals bowling in a superb display of power hitting.

Man-of-the-match Gambhir, who scored 97 in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka, slammed 11 fours and a six, with four of the boundaries coming in a single over from pace bowler Amit Singh. Kallis hit seven fours and two sixes to hand former champions Royals its first defeat in three matches.

"We bowled very well on that wicket, bowled in the right areas,'' Kallis said. "He (Gambhir) played fantastically. The total was par, we needed to keep wickets in hand and we got ahead of the rate.''

Scores:

Kolkata Knight Riders 160-1 in 18.3 overs (Jacques Kallis 80 not out, Gautam Gambhir 75 not out) def. Rajasthan Royals 159-4 in 20 overs (Rahul Dravid 35, Ross Taylor 35 not out; Yusuf Pathan 2-4).

Kochi Tuskers Kerala 184-2 in 19 overs (Brendon McCullum 81, Mahela Jayawardene 56, Lasith Malinga 2-42) def. Mumbai Indians 182-2 in 20 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 100 not out, Ambati Rayudu 53).