Sunil Narine continued to cast his spell on the Indian Premier League, as the latest season got off to the perfect start for the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, with the home side completing a comfortable six-wicket victory over the injury-ravaged Delhi Daredevils.
A jam-packed Eden Gardens witnessed some fireworks from the very first delivery, when Brett Lee castled Unmukt Chand, before the KKR bowlers, led by mystery spinner Narine (four for 13), bowled out the Daredevils for 128 from 19.5 overs.
Gautam Gambhir, looking to get back into the India setup with a good tournament here, played a nice knock of 42 from just 29 balls, before the newly-married Yusuf Pathan (18) and Eoin Morgan (14) took the home side to the target in relative ease with 1.2 overs remaining.
Delhi will have plenty of work to do, if they are to seriously challenge this season, with the capital side seriously missing the services of the likes of Kevin Pietersen - ruled out for the entire 2013 campaign -- Virender Sehwag and Morne Morkel.
Earlier, the IPL got off to a spectacular start, with Brett Lee getting Unmukt Chand with an absolutely perfect delivery, which pitched on middle and knocked the off stump out of the ground -- fans waiting to watch India's World Cup-winning under-19 captain will have to wait a little while longer.
David Warner and skipper Mahela Jayawardene put together a good partnership, with both batsmen hitting some wonderful boundaries in their 44-run partnership from just 5.4 overs.
However, the Daredevil train of wickets started once Warner got out to another peach, this time from Sunil Narine. The Aussie opener could do nothing as an off spinner from Narine bounced and spun viciously, taking the outside edge with it to Jacques Kallis at first slip.
From 44 for two, it was soon 97 for six, as the defending champions put the brakes on the scoring by picking up wickets consistently.
Rajat Bhatia did an admirable job in the middle overs, picking up wickets of Naman Ojha and Johan Botha to send DD teetering.
Jayawardene was the only player looking comfortable on the pitch, but the Sri Lankan great just did not get any support from the other end.
Narine had a hand in the last five wickets, picking up three himself, as KKR took complete control.
Jayawardene's innings of 66 from 52 balls (8x4, 1x6) was only one of two double figure scores, the other coming from Warner (21) at the top.
The injuries at the end of the day told its own tale, as Delhi looked a side bereft of much talent and experience, with the total nowhere near enough to trouble KKR.
