By IANS,
Mohali : Half-centuries from Manoj Tiwari and skipper Sourav Ganguly powered Kolkata Knight Riders to a comprehensive 39-run win over Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here Saturday.
While Kings XI tasted their fifth loss from six matches, the Knight Riders tasted their first win after suffering three consecutive losses.
After electing to bat first, Ganguly scored a fine 50 off 40 deliveries while Man of the Match Tiwari smashed a brilliant unbeaten 75 as the Knight Riders got to a challenging 183 for five in the 20 overs.
Their bowlers then put up a disciplined performance with fast bowlers Shane Bond and Ajit Agarkar picking two wickets each as the Kings XI could make only 144 for six in 20 overs.
Kings XI desperately looking for a win, made a disastrous start after they lost opener Ravi Bopara for a duck to Bond in the very second ball of the innings.
Local hero Yuvraj Singh (24) and Manvinder Bisla (22) tried to stabilize the innings with their 41-run stand for the second wicket. Yuvraj showed the promise hitting three fours and one six but mistimed a pull off Agarkar and Tiwari took a diving catch to send the left-handed batsman back.
Captain Kumara Sangakara (30) and Mahela Jayardene (16) tried to repair the innings but it was too late. Irfan Pathan (22) raised hopes with some dazzling stroke play but his efforts were not enough.
Earlier in the day, Chris Gayle (14) and Ganguly gave a good start to Knight Riders. Gayle smashed Brett Lee, who is playing his first match this season, for three boundaries in the first over to set the tone of the innings.
Gayle, however, didn’t last long, but Ganguly and Tiwari played some sensible cricket to take Knight Riders to a challenging total.
Ganguly hit a towering six and six boundaries during his 40-ball stay while Tiwari was in a sublime form smashing two sixes and eight fours in his 47-ball innings.
The last five overs saw 57 runs being scored and Tiwari took 21 runs off Pathan, hitting two sixes and two fours, in the last over to take the Knights to a winning total.