Brief scores: Mumbai 168-3 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 98 n.o, Corey Anderson 55 n.o; Morne Morkel 4-1-18-2
Kolkata 170-3 in 18.3 overs (Gautam Gambhir 57, Suryakumar Yadav 46 n.o, Manish Pandey 40; Anderson 2-0-21-1)
Kolkata Knight Riders put the Mumbai Indians attack to the sword to begin their title defence in style, winning the first game of the 2015 IPL by eight wickets.
Sent in to bat, Mumbai Indians lost three early wickets for just 37 runs before captain Rohit Sharma and Corey Anderson put on an unbeaten partnership of 131 for the fourth wicket. Man-of-the-match Morne Morkel took two wickets for just 18 runs in his four overs.
Rohit had an excellent chance to start season eight with a hundred but took a single from the penultimate ball to be stranded on 98 while Anderson was not out on 55.
In reply, Kolkata lost Robin Uthappa with just 13 runs on the board but captain Gautam Gambhir combined well with Manish Pandey and then Suryakumar Yadav to carry the defending champions over the line.
Suryakumar hit five sixes in a 20-ball 46 to hasten the run chase.
ALSO: Team previews and our complete IPL coverage
Next few fixtures
Thursday: Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils, 6.30pm
Friday: Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals, 6.30pm
Saturday: Chennai Super Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2.30pm
Kolkata Knight Riders v Royal Challengers Bangalore, 6.30pm
Sunday: Delhi Daredevils v Rajasthan Royals, 2.30pm
Mumbai Indians v Kings XI Punjab, 6.30pm
Monday: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Sunrisers Hyderabad, 6.30pm
