Gambhir steers Kolkata to easy victory

Kolkata Knight Riders cruised to an eight-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League in Mohali on Wednesday. Adam Gilchrist made 40 for Kings XI but their 124 for seven always looked insufficient - and so it proved as Gautam Gambhir led Kolkata to victory with an unbeaten 66 featuring seven fours and a six. Punjab's Paul Valthaty and Mandeep Singh fell cheaply and Gilchrist retired hurt for 28 after injuring a hamstring. A Shaun Marsh under-edge appeared to bounce before reaching Manvinder Bisla but Marsh accepted the keeper's word and departed for 33, leaving his side 86 for three. David Hussey was run out for 10 and Dimitri Mascarenhas could only manage nine - the latter's departure bringing back Gilchrist, without a runner. Piyush Chawla was dropped by Bisla before stunning boundary work by Brendon McCullum turned six runs into two, but Gilchrist cleared the ropes in a profitable final over. Brendon McCullum hit three early boundaries but was forced to play out a Praveen Kumar maiden - but the seamer's next brought two boundaries for Gambhir as Kolkata's opening pair accelerated to 50. McCullum (15) swatted a horrible long-hop from an embarrassed looking Chawla straight to Mascarenhas at short fine leg and Bisla (11) chopped on to give the spinner (two for 19) a slightly more conventional wicket. Gambhir swept Chawla for a single to complete a 36-ball half-century before being dropped by Kumar in the next over. He celebrated his reprieve with two boundaries before Jacques Kallis (30no) finished the job with a four - via the fingertips of David Hussey, who made a superb diving effort in the deep - and a six from successive balls.