IPL Match 32nd : Knight Riders beat Chargers by 23 runs

Sourav Ganguly led from the front to see Kolkata Knight Riders home by 23 runs against struggling Deccan Chargers during their Indian Premier League match in Hyderabad. ( Watch )
Scorecard

Earlier, Sourav Ganguly led from the front with a quickfire 91, while David Hussey chipped in with a blistering unbeaten 57 as Kolkata Knight Riders amassed 204 for four in their Indian Premier League match against Deccan Chargers.

Ganguly won the toss and decided to bat first but Salman Butt's exit in the first over pegged back the visitors. Ganguly joined hands with Aakash Chopra (24) and forged a 69-run stand to steady the ship before he and Hussey tore apart the Deccan attack en route to a 102-run stand for the third wicket.

Ganguly's 91 came off 57 balls and was studded with 11 hits to the fence besides five sixes. Hussey remained unbeaten after a 29-ball knock that included four boundaries, besides three sixes. Laxmi Ratan Shukla was not out on 14 off just three balls as the Knight Riders went past the 200-run mark.

Playing his second match of the tournament, Butt (4) drove Chaminda Vaas for a four but perished soon edging him behind. The hosts, however, had to wait another 10 overs before another wicket fell and it was poor judgement that saw Chopra returning to the hut after being run out.

Ganguly looked good for his maiden Twenty20 century but trying to up the ante, he went for a hook only to see RP Singh take a low catch at fine leg off P Vijaykumar.

Tatenda Taibu (9) lived dangerously and threw his bat at anything and everything before Ravi Teja took a full-blooded drive off RP Singh to cut short his stay.