The New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum has combined with the West Indies skipper Chris Gayle for an imperious opening stand to power Kolkata Knight Riders to an 11-run victory over Kings XI Punjab in a rain-hit Indian Premier League cricket match.
The left-hander Gayle put his team on course for victory when he put on 57 off just 33 balls for the opening wicket with McCullum, who cracked two sixes in his 16-ball 21.
Gayle hammered an explosive 44 not out including four sixes in his 26-ball knock as Kolkata raced to 79 for one off nine overs and two balls, in reply to their opponents' 20-over total of 158 for six when the game was called off due to rain.
Kolkata, who were 11 runs ahead on the Duckworth-Lewis method, posted their first win in two games. Punjab have lost both of their matches.
