Inspired Kolkata claw back to derail Deccan

Last year's wooden spoon holders Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off a major upset by defeating defending champions Deccan Chargers by 11 runs in the opening game of the Indian Premier League on Friday.

The defending champions began in style in their chase of 162, with captain Adam Gilchrist and VVS Laxman milking the bowlers as they raced away to 61 within six overs. Laxman's dismissal didn't deter Gilchrist, who went on to post a half-century from just 30 balls, helped by dropped catches from the Kolkata fielders.

But Gilchrist's wicket in the 12th over allowed Sourav Ganguly to apply the brakes on Deccan's scoring, and some inspiring bowling changes derailed their chase thereafter. Langeveldt accounted for both Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs, while Symonds was removed by Ishant Sharma in quick time.

The Deccan batsman lost the plot despite cruising to their target, with inexperience in the middle order undoing the good work done by Gilchrist and co. Rohit Sharma fell to impatience, while Anirudh Singh capitulated.

Kolkata's bowlers, often let down by the fielders, didn't lose heart as they stifled the Deccan batsmen. Langeveldt was the pick of the bowlers with 2-26, while everyone else picked up a wicket each.

Put into bat, Kolkata could not have asked for a worse start as they lost Manoj Tiwary with the first delivery and then Sourav Ganguly on the fourth ball of the over. RP Singh struck soon after, sending back debutant Cheteshwar Pujara and at 31 for three in the fifth over, a pall of gloom descended over the Kolkata camp. Brad Hodge was dismissed in the next over and it was 31 for four in no time.

Owais Shah and Angelo Mathews then came together and dropped anchor. The first few overs were difficult, but the two backed each other and at the end of the 10 overs, Kolkata was 57 for four.

But then Kolkata resurrected itself as Mathews and Shah tore into the Deccan attack. After overs and overs of single-block housing, the Manhattan skyline was in the offing and the two sent the bowlers on a leather hunt.

They added 104 runs in the last 10 overs and have give Kolkata a real chance of fighting back in this game. Mathews finished with 65 not out, while Shah was unbeaten on 58.