IPL: Kochi record easy win over Rajasthan

INDORE: Brad Hodge put in an impressive all-round performance to help Kochi Tuskers Kerala post an easy eight-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in an Indian Premier League match on Sunday.

Australian off-spinner Hodge finished with 4-13 and then hit an unbeaten 33 off just 17 balls as Kochi surpassed Rajasthan's total of 97 with more than 12 overs to spare for their sixth win in 13 games of the Twenty20 tournament.

New Zealander Brendon McCullum smashed four sixes in his 12-ball 29 before Hodge and Parthiv Patel (21 not out) finished the match with their 53-run stand for the third wicket.

Kochi have a slim chance of making it to the semi-finals, while Rajasthan went out of contention with their seventh defeat in 13 games.

Rajasthan skipper Shane Warne, who has endured a controversial tournament which saw him involved in a row with local officials, apologised for his team's display.

Bangalore lead the 10-team league table with 17 points, followed by Chennai (16), Mumbai (16), Kolkata (14), Punjab (12), Kochi (12), Rajasthan (11), Pune (eight), Deccan (eight) and Delhi (eight).

Brief scores:
Rajasthan Royals 97 in 18.3 overs (A. Maneria 31, S. Watson 20; B. Hodge 4-13, S. Sreesanth 2-16, P. Parameswaran 2-20) lost to Kochi Tuskers Kerala 98-2 in 7.2 overs (B. Hodge 33 not out, B. McCullum 29, P. Patel 21 not out) by eight wickets.