IPL 8: Mumbai lad Suryakumar shines as KKR start with win over MI

KolkataKolkata Knight Riders launched theirtitle defence on a perfect note as skipper Gautam Gambhir andSuryakumar Yadav drove them to a sevenwicket win over MumbaiIndians in the IPL8 T20 cricket tournament opener here todayChasing 169 for a win Gambhirs 43ball 57 7x4 1x6led the KKR charge while Suryakumars unbeaten 46 off 20deliveries helped them canter to their target in 183 oversKKR batsman Surya Kumar Yadav celebrates after hitting the winning shot during their IPL2015 match against Mumbai Indians at Eden Garden in Kolkata on Wednesday PicPTIBut it was the 85run second wicket partnership betweenGambhir and No3 Manish Pandey 40 that set up the chaseThere was some respite after the visitors dismissed theduo but ironically they found their nemesis in a familiarMumbaikar Suryakumar who led Mumbai in Ranji Trophy thisseasonThe talented youngster who came in at 1213 with 48required from 34 balls hit some sensational shots thatincluded a four and 5 sixes Yusuf Pathan was also unbeaten on14Corey Anderson Jasprit Bumrah and Harbhajan Singh pickedup a wicket eachEarlier riding on a brilliant unbeaten 98 by skipper Rohit Sharma Mumbai Indians scored 1683Put in to bat first Mumbai overcame initial hiccups to set the Knights a challenging asking rate of 845 runs per overIn trouble at 373 in the sixth over MI took the battle into the opposition camp with the elegant Rohit 65b 12x4 4x6 stitching an unbeaten 131run partnership with Corey Anderson 55 41b 4x4 3x6 before a 50000 plus crowdMumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma plays a shot during his unbeaten knock of 98 against KKR at Eden Garden in Kolkata on Wednesday PicPTIThe Knights drew first blood in the second over when big hitting opener Aaron Finch 7 7b 1x4 top edged giving South African pacer Morne Morkel his first wicketContinuing his good run at the hallowed stadium where he had scored a record shattering 264 while playing for India in November Rohit looked unfazed as he creamed Umesh Yadav for three boundaries attracting loud cheers from the crowdThe joy though was shortlived as wicket keeperbatsman Aditya Tare 7 perished in the deep trying to hit Sakib Al Hasan for a six in the fifth overBowling a fiery spell Morkel then removed Ambati Rayudu 0 in the next over as the visitors innings seemed to be totteringEndeavouring to tighten their grip Knight skipper Gautam Gambhir summoned his trump card Sunil Narine who bowled with a remodelled action and seemed to have settled down after conceding a four in his very first ballJoining hands with Corey Anderson Rohit consolidated the innings taking Mumbai past 50 in the ninth over as Gambhir juggled around his bowlersStarting to cut loose Rohit clobbered Yadav for 18 runs including a towering six to score his 22nd half century in the IPL and taking Mumbai past 100 in the 15th overAs Anderson and Rohit upped the ante the pressure on the home team was evident and they spilled three catches Anderson was the beneficiary twiceCutting and pulling with ease Rohit was at his best as Kolkata bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runsFor the hosts Morkel was the pick of the bowlers with 218 while Shakib Al Hasan 148 was the other wicket taker