First win for Kochi after first ton for Sachin

But as he smashed a Malinga full-toss straight back past the bowler for four— literally as it actually ricocheted off the Sri Lankan’s foot — before putting him away once through the covers and once over point,McCullum had done more than just set the perfect tone for Kochi’s pursuit of their 183-run target. He had also,with his calculated yet brash attack,spread a wave of optimism in the dressing-room and amongst the team’s motley bunch of fans. Most importantly,every Kochi batsman who took strike after McCullum also seemed to catch onto it,as the Tuskers finally opened their account in IPL IV,spoiling the Mumbai Indians party along the way,with a massive eight-wicket margin.

Aggressive Jayawardene

Pristine in his style of play,and generally bereft of his opening partner’s unorthodoxy,Jayawardene too oozed aggression in his demeanour,beginning with his decision to promote himself up the order. And almost unassumingly and much to the dismay of the partisan Mumbai Indians supporters at the Wankhede Stadium,the experienced duo began muscling their team into a strong position by the time the Kochi skipper fell to Malinga for a 36-ball 56.

Unlike what was being meted out to the Mumbai bowling by McCullum,there was no menace in Jayawardene’s stroke-play. While fears of another close defeat would have begun to surface in the Kochi camp when McCullum fell for a 60-ball 81 during an attempt at a swoop-shot off Malinga,Ravindra Jadeja managed to keep his nerve to hammer,quite literally,the final two nails in Mumbai’s coffin — with two sixes off Ali Murtuza.

When the time the Kochi openers had walked out to bat,the only orange that seemed to matter at the Wankhede Stadium was the crown that Sachin Tendulkar sported at mid-off after his maiden T20 century. But by the time the partisan Mumbai fans trickled out of the Wankhede Stadium,it was the orange and the crimson of the Kochi team that ruled the roost,as the Tuskers drew first blood in their maiden IPL.