Brendon McCullum gave the Indian Premier League the start it craved, as he plundered 158no as Kolkata Knight Riders claimed a resounding victory over Bangalore Royal Challengers.
Rahul Dravid won the toss and put the Knight Riders into bat and it proved a far from wise move, as his bowlers were taken to task by McCullum.
The Kiwi set the tone for his innings by smashing his first scoring shot for four, but that was a mere taster.
McCullum smashed 13 sixes in posting a Twenty20 record of 158 and his contribution enabled the Knight Riders to post 222/3.
Bangalore’s chase got off to a terrible start as Dravid fell in the second over and the skipper’s departure summed up their innings in a microcosm.
They failed to gather any momentum and were bowled out for 82 off 15.1 overs.
McCullum received little support of note, as Saurav Ganguly looked out of touch and Ricky Ponting made a steady if unspectacular 20.
But such was his utter dominance, it mattered not one iota. No bowler was spared punishment as he plundered 13 sixes and 10 fours in his knock of 158 off 73 balls.
Bangalore needed a rapid start, but they never got off the ground as Ishant Sharma clean bowled Dravid for two.
Ashok Dinda provided excellent support and he claimed the wickets of Wasim Jaffer and Virat Kohli.
Ajit Agarkar claimed 3-25 and Ganguly pitched in with 2-21 as Bangalore capitulated.
Big names Jacques Kallis, Cameron White and Mark Boucher failed to reach double figures – in fact the only batsman to do so was number nine Praveen Kumar.
Kumar remained unbeaten on 18 and it was fitting that McCullum had the final say - taking a comfortable catch to dismiss Sunil Joshi off the bowling of Laxmi Shukla.
