ShahRukh Khan can afford a smile now, because Knight Riders have opened the points tally by winning their first match of this season's IPL. Kolkatta chose to field first after winning the toss and in came Ravi Bopara and Goel. Goel fell cheaply, thanks to a great catch from Gayle. Then Kings XI sprung a surprise sending Irfan Pathan in at No:3.Irfan was in some murderous mood smashing the ball all over the park and scored a quick fire 30 before getting out to Dada, again a wonderful catch, this time Murali Karthik. Ravi Bopara who was playing second fiddle to Irfan also fell leaving the score at 48/3. Dada with some assistance from the pitch bowled excellantly takin two quick wickets.

Sanga and Yuvraj put their heads down worked their way to a 50-odd run partnership before a minor indecision between the two cost the new SriLankan captain's wicket. Yuvraj played some thundering shots before getting out of the bowling of Australian Henriques.Mahela waged a lone battle scoring an unbeaten 31 off 19 balls to see his team past 150. They ended up at 158/6 in 20 overs.

In reply,McCullum and Gayle opening for the second time for Kolkatta, played briskly to smash the bowling. Home boy Yusuf Abdullah was unlucky not to get Gayle out, when a catch was put down by Goel but soon after was getting some serious treatment from the WestIndian hitting him for 2 sixes and 2 fours in a single over. McCullum got out of the bowling of new boy Malik. Hodge came in and then the rain came in. It poured down in Durban forcing umpires to call the match in favour of ShahRukh's team. Kolkatta was declared winners by 9 runs, courtesy the gentlemen,Duckworth and Lewis.

Match:6

Kings XI Punjab-158/6 in 20 overs.

Kolkata KnightRiders-79/1 in 9.2 overs(won by 9 runs D/L method)

MOM-Chris Gayle.