Gayle, rain blow away Kings XI

A Chris Gayle blitz carried Kolkata Knight Riders to their first win in the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), beating Kings XI Punjab by 11 runs via Duckworth and Lewis method in a rain-affected match at Kingsmead here Tuesday.

Chasing 159, Knight Riders were 79 for one in 9.2 overs before rain interrupted the proceedings for the third time. Gayle, who sprinted to 44 off 26 balls, and Brad Hodge (10) were at the crease when unabated rain swept the ground.

Play was called off and Knight Riders logged their first points as they were ahead in the D/L charts.

Rain proved second time unlucky for the Punjab team who lost the first match against Delhi Daredevils also through D/L method.

Knight Riders were off to a roaring start with captain Brendon McCullum (21) and Gayle mowing down the Punjab bowling. The two added quick-fire 57 for the opening wicket before McCullum was caught behind off Vikramjeet Malik.

Kings XI paid heavily for sparing Gayle two lives who belted Irfan Pathan in the fifth over hitting him for two fours and a six.

Earlier, put to bat, Kings XI recovered from the fall of Karan Goel in the third over, thanks to a brisk innings from Pathan.

Pathan along with Ravi Bopara added 36 runs for the second wicket before Sourav Ganguly (2-24) struck with the ball.

Ganguly, who failed miserably with the bat in the last match, picked two wickets in his first over. Irfan took the aerial route, but was caught at midwicket by Murli Kartik near the boundary. Bopara followed two balls later when he edged a Ganguly delivery to new KKR captain Brendon McCullum. The Punjab team were reeling at 48 for three when captain Yuvraj Singh (38) and Kumar Sangkarra (26) joined forces to steady the innings.

The rain after the 10th over slowed the run flow but Mahela Jayawardene gave an ideal finish with his 19-ball 31.