#5: Mahela Jayawardene (110*, 14x4, 3x6)
For: Kings XI Punjab
Against: Kolkata Knight Riders
Date: 4th April 2010
The third edition of the IPL was one to forget for the Kings XI Punjab and their fans. After finishing second in the table in the first season, and then missing out on a spot in the playoffs in 2009 only on net run rate, the men from Mohali slipped further by finishing rock-bottom of the league standings, winning only 4 out of their 14 games that year.
It seemed such a shame that a team that could call upon the services of internationally renowned players such as Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Brett Lee, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Kaif, Brett Lee and Ravi Bopara would suffer such a fate. However, in the 4 wins that they did manage to scrape together, one stood head and shoulders above the others.
On the 4th of April, the Kings XI travelled to the Eden Gardens to take on Sourav Ganguly's Kolkata Knight Riders, in what was a pivotal game for both sides. Punjab needed the win to break their losing streak, and for Kolkata, a win would see them move to fourth in the table. Ganguly won the toss and elected to bat first, and opened the innings with West Indian powerhouse Chris Gayle, whose 42-ball 88, along with solid 30s from his captain and youngster Manoj Tiwary powered Kolkata to a formidable 200/3 in their allotted 20 overs. Ravi Bopara received the most severe treatment, as he conceded 43 runs in his 3 overs. At this stage, it seemed that the losing streak would continue for Punjab.
Opening the innings with Manvinder Bisla, Jayawardene helped Punjab start well, staying with the required run rate, until Bisla was bowled by Murali Kartik in the fifth over, with the score at 51. Thereafter, Kumar Sangakkara came to the crease, and the two Sri Lankans put on 98 for the second wicket, with Jayawardene the more aggressive of the two, contributing 58 off 31 balls to the partnership. He ensured that only one KKR bowler, Shane Bond, had an economy rate below 10 runs an over as he displayed exquisite technique, combined with brute power to make his way to 110 off just 59 balls, dotted with 14 boundaries and 3 sixes.
In the company of a belligerent Yuvraj Singh (33* off 16 balls), Mahela made sure that Kings XI emerged victorious, knocking off the required target with 10 balls to spare, and giving his side a much needed boost in confidence.
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