Photographs: BCCI
The sixth edition of the Indian Premier League got off to a good start for Kolkata Knight Riders. The defending champions, along with the other eight teams, will be fighting for this spectacular trophy (shown in picture) in the next seven weeks.
On the day Kolkata Knight Riders stumbled en route before edging out Delhi Daredevils by six wickets to spare in the first match of the tournament at the Eden Gardens.
Needing a paltry 129 to win, the home team raced home with eight balls to spare, Yusuf Pathan (18 not out) and Eoin Morgan (14 not out) ensuring their campaign started on a winning note.
Gambhir got it right with the coin
Photographs: BCCI
The Eden Gardens was packed to capacity and the pressure was already on the home team.
But that pressure was quickly off as soon as Daredevils' captain Mahela Jayawardene got it wrong at the toss and KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir put the opposition in to bat.
Lee struck with his first ball
Photographs: BCCI
It was the perfect start for Brett Lee and KKR after the Aussie speedster cleaned up Daredevils' opening batsman Unmukt Chand off the very first delivery of the tournament.
Lee started with a full delivery that moved away enough to beat Chand's tentative forward push to bowl him for a duck off the very first delivery of the match.
The Australian finished with figures of two for 40, having also accounted for Mahela Jayawardene.
Narine took four wickets
Photographs: BCCI
Sunil Narine, the star bowler for Kolkata last season, again was their best bet with the ball.
The West Indies spinner finished with impressive figures of four for 13, getting the wickets of David Warner (21), Irfan Pathan (4), Andre Russell (4) and Ashish Nehra (0).
He was named the man-of-the-match, his fourth such effort in the tournament.
Bhatia was also among wickets
Photographs: BCCI
Rajat Bhatia also struck gold against his former team.
He finished with figures of two for 23.
Jayawardene top-scored for Delhi
Photographs: BCCI
Mahela Jayawardene scored half of Delhi's runs.
The captain made 66, his 52-ball innings inclusive of eight boundaries and the lone six of the Delhi innings.
The visitors managed a paltry 123 in their stipulated 20 overs.
Gambhir led from the front
Photographs: BCCI
Gautam Gambhir led the home team from the front.
The KKR skipper's 29-ball 42 was inclusive of five boundaries and a six.
He was involved in a 47-run stand for the second wicket with Jacques Kallis (23) and put on another 41 for the third with Manoj Tiwary (23).
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