Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan defended Kolkata Knight Riders teammate Piyush Chawla for not taking the defending champions across the finish line with his bat in the last over of their IPL cricket match against Mumbai Indians.

Needing 12 off the final over, bowled by Kieron Pollard, to overtake the home team's total of 171 for four, Chawla (1 not out off 7 balls) played out a few dot balls and KKR were stopped at 166 for seven to lose the game by five runs at the Wankhede Stadium, here last night.