KOCHI: Brendon McCullum made a quickfire 47 to help Kochi Tuskers Kerala score a seven-wicket win over defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament Monday. The New Zealand player smashed three sixes and four fours off 33 balls as Kochi got to its target of 135 with ease under the Duckworth-Lewis system in a rain-shortened match of 17 overs. Left-hander Parthiv Patel (34) was the other main scorer as Kochi made it home with two overs to spare. It was the second consecutive win for new franchise Kochi after a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians. Kochi now has two wins and two losses from four matches, the same as Chennai. McCullum, who had scored 81 against Mumbai, was severe on short balls and hit most of his boundaries on the leg side. He added 39 for the first wicket with captain Mahela Jayawardene (19) and 51 for the third with former Chennai player Parthiv Patel, who compiled a neat 34. Australian Brad Hodge (19 not out) and Ravinder Jadeja (16 not out) then saw the team through with ease. “The boys bowled really well, especially after the rain interruption midway into Chennai's innings,” Jayawardene said. “We needed a good five-six overs then, the allround effort was fantastic.” Earlier, put in to bat in overcast conditions, Chennai posted a modest score with Suresh Raina making 50. Raina had struck 23 when the persistent drizzle turned heavy, leaving umpires Krishna Hariharan and Tony Hill of New Zealand with no option but to halt play with the score at 65 for two in nine overs. Raina continued in the same fashion on resumption and was run out after unleashing a six and five fours off 40 balls. Opener Murali Vijay made an 18-ball 28 while skipper Dhoni (14 not out) and Albie Morkel (nine not out) got some quick runs toward the end to take the score to 131-4. “Those overs (after the break) were critical as we lost the momentum,” Dhoni said. Scores: Kochi Tuskers Kerala 135-3 in 15 overs (Brendon McCullum 47, Parthiv Patel 34, Ravichandran Ashwin 2-31). Chennai Super Kings 131-4 (Suresh Raina 50, Murali Vijay 28).
