KKR start with a win

After two poor campaigns on the trot, Kolkata Knight Riders will be delighted to have started on the right foot with an 11 run victory over Deccan Chargers in the DLF Indian Premier League III opener at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Friday.
The Knight Riders looked out of the running for large parts of the game but a spirited bowling effort from all their bowlers saw them restrict the Deccan Chargers to 150 for 7 chasing 162 for a victory.
Captain Adam Gilchrist did not look very secure but scored 54 off 35 balls to put the Chargers into the box seat. However his departure to fellow countryman Brad Hodge stirred a collapse from which the Chargers never recovered.
South African Charles Langeveldt took 2 for 26.
Earlier, Angelo Mathews and Owais Shah both scored unbeaten half-centuries to push Kolkata Knight Riders to 162.
Mathews scored 65 and Shah got 58 as Kolkata Knight Riders recovered from 31 for four to set a reasonable target for Deccan Chargers.
Strike bowler Chaminda Vaas came up big for the Chargers with a three-wicket burst to swing the early initiative for his side, including the wicket of Manoj Tiwary from the first ball of the innings.
SCORES IN BRIEF
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS: 161 for 4 (Mathews 65 not out, Shah 58 not out; Vaas 2-22)
DECCAN CHARGERS: 150 for 7 (Gilchrist 54, Laxman 22, Gibbs 19; Langerveldt 2-26)
Result: Kolkata Knight Riders won by 11 runs.