South Africa (CMC)

Chris Gayle blasted an unbeaten 44 to lead the Kolkata Knight Riders to an 11-run victory (D/L Method) over Kings Punjab XI in a rain-hit Indian Premier League match yesterday.

The West Indies captain smote two fours and four sixes in a typically belligerent 26-ball knock, as Kolkata reached 79 for one in 9.2 overs, replying to the Punjab XI's 158 for six from their allocation of 20 overs when the match at Kingsmead ended early because of rain.

first victory

It was the first victory for the Knight Riders in two matches, and the Punjab have now lost both of their games.

Left-hander Gayle shared an opening stand of 57 from just 33 balls with New Zealand wicketkeeper/batsman Brendon McCullum to put the Knight Riders firmly on track.

But fortune favoured him, when he was dropped on two in the second over, when Karan Goel put him down at midwicket off South African left-arm fast-medium bowler Yusuf Abdulla.

Earlier, Yuvraj Singh top-scored 38 from 28 balls including two sixes, and Kumar Sangakkara collected 26 to helped Punjab post a respectable total with a stand of 56 for the fourth wicket.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly had earlier rocked Punjab with a double-strike in his opening over, when Irfan Pathan was caught at deep midwicket for 32, and Ravi Bopara was caught behind for 15.

steadied the ship

But Punjab captain Yuvraj, who smashed six sixes in an over at Kingsmead against England in the Twenty20 World Champion-ship two years ago, steadied the ship with Sangakkara before Mahela Jayawardene scored 31 not out from 19 balls to add some respectability to the Punjab total.

In the other match, the second match of the double-header between Mumbai Indians which includes West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo and Rajasthan Royals was washed out without a ball being bowled.

The rain was intermittent and the umpires abandoned the match 2-1/2 hours after the scheduled start. Both teams will share a point.