Struggling Bangalore slip to sixth defeat The Kolkata Knight Riders defended a total of 129-7 to claim a five-run victory over the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the Indian Premier League. In a match reduced to 16 overs per side due to rain, the Knight Riders' batting line-up all chipped in after skipper Sourav Ganguly opted to bat first. Australian David Hussey top scored with 26 off just 12 balls, while Ganguly contributed a more sedate 20 to the less-than-intimadating final total. It proved just enough as the Royal Challengers could muster only 124-4 despite Mark Boucher's unbeaten 50. The South African struck five fours and a six during his 40-ball knock, but could not keep his side in touch with the spiralling required rate. Ganguly starred with the ball, conceding just seven runs from three overs of medium pace. The early dismissals of opening pair Jagadeesh Arunkumar (22) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (7) had given Kolkata hope of defending their modest score. And that turned to genuine belief when Rahul Dravid was bowled by his India team-mate Ganguly (1-7) for just five to leave the Challengers languishing on 51-3 in the 10th over. Boucher and Cameron White put on 45 in an impressive fourth-wicket partnership, but when the latter was run out for 30 to leave the visitors 34 runs from victory with less than two overs remaining the writing was on the wall. The result moves the Knight Riders up to fifth in the IPL standings, while the Royal Challengers remain bottom in the eight-team competition.
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