The Knightriders are back to the winning ways

Dada back in stunning form

Sourav Ganguly was at his aggressive best as Kolkata Knight Riders secured a 23-run victory over the Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League.

The former India captain fired 91(57 balls 11 x 4, 5 x 6) as the Knight Riders posted an imposing total of 204 for four.

Ganguly and David Hussey put on 102 for the third wicket. Hussey struck an unbeaten 57 (29 balls, 4 x 4, 3 x 6).

Ganguly even took two catches and two wickets as the Chargers managed 181 for seven in reply. And was named The Man of the Match.

Chasing a formidable 205, though Rohit Sharma (33, 24 balls, 3 x 4, 2 x 6) came up with yet another impressive knock it was for a lost cause again. So was the scintillating effort from Venugopala Rao (71 not out, 42 balls, 4 x 4, 6 x 6) which included two stunning sixes — one over point off Ishant Sharma and another over mid-wicket off Umar Gul. Knight Riders bowlers looked menacing on the same pitch by virtue of their consistent line and length with Dinda picking three wickets.

Despite Rao's fine innings, the hosts finished well short on 181-7 from their 20 overs. The result sees Kolkata remain in fifth spot in the Indian Premier League standings with eight points, while Deccan are struggling down in seventh with just two victories from nine matches.

The scores:

Kolkata Knight Riders: S. Butt c Gilchrist b Vaas 4, A. Chopra (run out) 24, S. Ganguly c R.P. Singh b Vijay Kumar 91, D. Hussey (not out) 57, T. Taibu c Teja b R.P. Singh 9, L.R. Shukla (not out) 14; Extras: (lb -1, w -3, nb-1) 5. Total (for four wkts. in 20 overs) 204.
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-73, 3- 175, 4-190.

Deccan Chargers bowling: Vaas 3-0-36-1, Vijay Kumar 3-0-21-1, Styris 3-0-28-0, R.P. Singh 4-0-59-1,Venugopal 4-0-24-0, Bangar 1-0-10-0, Ojha 2-0-25-0.

Deccan Chargers: A. Gilchrist c Ganguly b Dinda 24, H. Gibbs c Butt b Dinda 5, D. Ravi Teja c Saha b Gul 10, R. Sharma c Ganguly b Dinda 33, S. Styris c Shukla b Ganguly 5, Y. Venugopala Rao (not out) 71, S. Bangar c Chopra b Ganguly 2, C. Vaas b Shukla 9, R.P. Singh (not out) 6; Extras: (lb-8, w-4, nb-4) 16. Total: (for seven wkts. in 20 overs) 181.

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-41, 3-41, 4-63, 5-95, 6-123, 7-161.