When Gautam Gambhir (60 off 39b; 9x4 0x6) and Eoin Morgan (47 off 38b; 6x4 0x6) were at the crease, stitching together a partnership of 105 runs, it seemed KKR were on course for an easy victory chasing the Kings XI total of 157/9.
But Manpreet Gony, who had batted brilliantly earlier, bowled an exceptional 14th over, conceding just one run, and got Gambhir to edge to his counterpart Adam Gilchrist behind the stumps. That was the turning point of the match as the hosts tightened the screws, picking up wickets at regular intervals.
Azhar Mahmood showed his experience in the death overs, picking two wickets including the crucial scalp of Morgan. In the last over, the defending champions required 11 runs, of which Praveen Kumar conceded just six as KKR lost by 4 runs.
The start for Kolkata Knight Riders was far from ideal. At one stage they had lost two wickets with just a run on the board. Opener Manvinder Bisla was prized out by Praveen Kumar and soon after No. 3 batsman Jacques Kallis went out driving at a ball which didn't come on to the bat properly.
Earlier, late fireworks from Gony (42 off 18b; 4x4 3x6) pushed the Kings total past the 150-run mark. It was an innings which made the difference in the end given Narine's brilliant hat-trick.
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