Parthiv guides Kochi to easy win

Parthiv Patel is making a strong case for a return to the national side. Already, he has grabbed the international chances that came his way during the New Zealand series at home to establish himself as the second-choice wicketkeeper for the national side, edging ahead of competitors like Dinesh Karthik and Wriddhiman Saha.

In the IPL, he had been undone by a delivery the kept diabolically low two days ago against Delhi, but in the return leg he played a cool hand to ensure victory. Besides top scoring with the bat, he also pouched three catches behind the stumps. The first two were simple catches but included the big wicket of Virender Sehwag, the man around whom Delhi's batting revolves. Sehwag was looking dangerous, lashing boundaries at will before he nicked to the keeper. Next to go was Naman Ojha, feathering through to Parthiv. The third catch was the best of the match, and it ended an innovative cameo from Travis Birt - Parthiv flew to his left to snaffle a thick edge with both hands.

With the bat, Parthiv dashed any hopes Delhi had of coming back into the match through the dismissal of Mahela Jayawardene. He flicked a couple of boundaries off the pads in one Ajit Agarkar over, then took two more fours off Morne Morkel. He ended unbeaten on 37, adding an unbroken 52-run stand with Brad Hodge to ensure an easy win.