Kolkata Knight Riders began the defence of their Indian Premier League title with a win on Wednesday.
The two-time champions saw off Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens in the opening game of IPL 8.
After losing the toss, Mumbai posted a decent total of 168/3, largely thanks to an unbeaten 130 partnership between Corey Anderson and Rohit Sharma.
However, KKR chased it down with nine balls to spare, helped by captain Gautam Gambhir, who top-scored with 57.
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The first wicket of the 2015 Indian Premier League came in its ninth delivery, as big-money Mumbai signing Aaron Finch tried to go the distance, but fell short and sent a Morne Morkel delivery into the grateful clutches of Umesh Yadav…
KKR’s fine start continued as Aditya Tare perished for just seven – Yadav again taking the catch, this time off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan…
Ambati Rayudu then went for a duck, as Morkel claimed his second victim, leaving Mumbai on 37/3 at the end of the powerplay. Sunil Narine stepped up to bowl the seventh over, and his first ball was sent to the rope…
The momentum was soon with Mumbai, as skipper Sharma brought up his 50 with this expansive shot…
Anderson was getting busy too. He needed a big slice of luck to remain at the crease though. And he got it, as Andre Russell dropped a sitter…
Fortune was on the side of Sharma as well…
Morkel had been brilliant with the ball, finishing his four-over spell with two wickets for just 18 runs, but he really should have halted Anderson’s progress on 46…
Sharma looked destined for a century, but he had to settle for 98*, as Anderson finished the first innings with a maximum to move to 55.
Mumbai got off to a good start in the field, removing Robin Uthappa for just 13…
However, the Knight Riders then put their foot down and started scoring hard and fast. Even Lasith Malinga was getting smashed for six…
Manish Pandey got out on 40 to give Mumbai hope…
Gambhir then followed, as the hosts threatened to wobble…
However, Suryakumar Yadav (46*) steered KKR home with some huge shots – five of which went the distance, like this one…
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