KOLKATA: Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Pune Warriors by seven runs in a thrilling match of the Indian Premier League – V (IPL-2012) here at Eden Gardens on Saturday.
Chasing an easy target of 151, Pune Warriors were limited to 143 runs for eight wickets due to accurate bowling by the Knight Riders.
South African fast bowler Marchant de Lange captured three for 34 but it was West Indies’ off-break bowler Sunil Narine conceded only 13 runs from four overs with a maiden and a wicket. he was later adjudged the Man-of-the-Match.
For Pune, captain Sourav Ganguly made 36 with a six and allrounder Angelo Mathews scored 35 hitting three sixes.
Earlier, the Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir won the toss and elected to bat first. He and New Zealand opener Brendan McCullum provided a good start making 113 runs for the first wicket but the latter batsmen could not improve the run rate and finished at 150 for five in the allotted 20 overs.
Gambhir made 56 with four fours and two sixes while McCullum scored 42 with five fours and a six.
Pacemen Mathews and Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed two wickets each for Pune Warriors.
Geo Super televised this thriller live from Eden Gardens, Kolkata.