Gony's blitz leads Punjab to second win of the season

Manpreet Gony made a dream debut for Punjab by contributing with both ball and bat to help his side beat defending champions Kolkata by a slim four-run margin in the Indian T20 tournament on Tuesday.

Having lost their last two matches, Punjab was under pressure to deliver. But they were off to a shaky start losing talisman Adam Gilchrist for just seven. Mandeep Singh and Manan Vohra steadied the innings with a 37-run stand, for the third wicket, but both fell inside eleven overs.

Kolkata's offspinner Sunil Narine compounded Punjab's woes further, in the fifteenth over, by claiming the season's first hat-trick. Narine drilled a hole through Punjab's experienced-middle order by dismissing David Hussey, Azhar Mahmood and Gurkeerat Singh in succession.

But when Punjab's cause appeared lost, Gony stepped in. He smashed 42 from 18 balls and gave his side a respectable 157 to bowl to. The tall number-eight, first, slapped L Balaji for a six and a four in the 18th over and, then, Narine for two sixes and a four in the 19th.

Despite losing two wickets in the first two overs, Kolkata appeared to be cruising to a win with a 105 run, third-wicket, stand between Gautam Gambhir and Eoin Morgan.

But an awe-inspiring second spell from Gony pegged Kolkata on back foot. He broke the partnership by dismissing Gambhir for 60 and then stingily conceded just six from three overs to hand his side their second win of the season.

"I liked the wicket and was having fun," Gony said. "My coach told me to hit straight when I went out to bat and I kept it simple."

Gilchrist said that Gony's innings saved his side the blushes. "Gony was the difference of the day with bat and ball. He sparked something in us and he was well supported by the other guys. He really saved us with that innings."

Steven Smith's quickfire 39 from 16 balls helped Pune beat Chennai, in their own backyard, by a 24-run margin on Monday.

Pune's openers, Aaron Finch and Robin Uthappa, got them off to a flying start with the pair adding fifty in the first seven overs. Finch, who's impressed with the bat in the tournament, continued his good form and smashed 67 from 45 balls. Uthappa played a more cautious knock.

The pair put on a 96-run opening stand - which is Pune's best partnership ever - before Finch fell. Pune lost momentum after his departure as R Ashwin and Chris Morris kept things neat. The visitors, who were at one stage 96 for 0, now struggled at 128 for 4.

But Smith, who wouldn't even have played but for the ban on Sri Lankan cricketers in Chennai, had other ideas. He went crazy against Dirk Nannes and Dwayne Bravo, reverse-flicking the latter for a huge six over third man in the final over. Smith and Manish Pandey added twenty eight off those last two overs and helped their side post a respectable 159.

Pune's bowlers, backed by some good fielding, picked up wickets regularly. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashok Dinda and Mitchell Marsh claimed two-wickets each. Abhishek Nayar and Rahul Sharma kept it tidy as well in the middle overs, leaving Chennai with close to 14 an over to chase through MS Dhoni, Bravo and Albie Morkel. They faltered and folded for 135.

"I was fresh and ready to go," Smith said. "It was difficult with Angelo not being able to come here but I got my chance tonight and we won the game which was the most important thing."

Pune's stand-in captain Ross Taylor said that Smith batted and fielded outstandingly. "With the absence of Angelo, Steven was an automatic selection and he took his opportunity with both hands, and batted outstandingly well, leading his team in the field with his intensity and catching."