Kallis stars in Kolkata Knight Riders’ win

Kallis scores significant half-century and takes four catches to help KKR open their account in IPL IV

Kallis stars in Kolkata Knight Riders' win

Kallis scores significant half-century and takes four catches to help KKR open their account in IPL IV

Kolkata Knight Riders' Jacques Kallis bats during the Indian Premier League match against Deccan Chargers at Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday. Pic/AFP

Replying to the Knights' challenging 163/4, the Chargers managed 154/8 on a tough batting track at the half-filled Eden Gardens to crash to their second defeat in as many matches.

Left arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla (3/24) chipped in with key wickets on a turning pitch as the Knight Riders coasted to a nine-run victory after having gone down to defending champions Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling lung opener.

However, the narrow margin of victory was not truly reflective of the proceedings, as the KKR controlled the game right through and seemed on road to victory midway into the Deccan Chargers' essay.

South African opener Kallis (53, 45 balls) mixed some superb strokeplay with an uncanny ability to pick up the gaps with deft placements to lay a solid foundation, after the home side skipper Gautam Gambhir elected to bat.

He extended his good batting show to the field, taking catches to see the back of rival skipper Kumar Sangakkara (16), Jean-Paul Duminy (6), the dangerous looking Bharat Chipli (48 of 40 balls) and Ravi Teja (15) to walk away with the man of the match award.

Set a formidable asking rate of 8.2, Deccan Chargers got off to a poor start, with openers Ishant Jaggi (3) and Shikhar Dhawan (7) going back by the fourth over.

Jaggi saw his bails dislodged by his pads after he tried to pull a delivery from Abdulla that kept low.

Dhawan was then run out to a spectacular piece of throw by Eoin Morgan, and Deccan Chargers were 15/2.

Sangakkara and Chipli tried to steady the ship with a 38-run stand that took the visitors past the 50 mark.

But with the asking rate mounting to over 10, the Sri Lankan tried to quicken the proceedings, but fell to a Kallis catch at square leg.

Duminy and Chipli, who was shaping up well, also departed by the 14th over, and Chargers were reduced to 88/5. And despite some lusty hitting from Daniel Christian (25, 13 balls, 1x4, 2x6), the script was already decided.

The Kolkata Knight Riders had a cracker of a start, with the experienced Kallis hitting the first two deliveries of compatriot Dale Steyn. The other opener Manvinder Bisla (19) got a life on 12 when he was dropped by Ishant Sharma at third man in Steyn's second over, and the openers put on 51 before the Indian departed leg before after missing an attempted sweep of leg spinner Amit Mishra.

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