Gambhir, Lynn power record chase against Gujarat

Kolkata's captain, Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn, made history by setting a world record in T20 cricket, guiding their side to a ten wicket win - with an unbeaten 184-run opening stand in the Indian Twenty20 competition against Gujarat on Friday.

Gambhir pressed the opposition in to bat first at the toss but a strong Gujarat outfit made the most of familiar home conditions in Rajkot. The top five Gujarat batsmen found runs, but Captain Suresh Raina top scored with a 51-ball 68. Raina found an able partner in Dinesh Karthik and the duo added 87 runs for the fourth wicket to help their side post an impressive 183.

Kolkata required to score at over nine runs an over from the onset to mount a challenge. Gambhir and Lynn ensured they did just that, as they thumped seven fours and two sixes in the first five overs. The early onslaught against the seamers set the tone for the chase. Raina turned to his left-arm chinaman, Shivil Kaushik, for some much needed respite, but Gambhir was in no mood to step off the gas and clubbed the 21-year-old for four fours in his second over. Kolkata had at that stage posted 73, their highest Powerplay score in the tournament.

Dwayne Smith was brought on to stub the run flow but he was treated with equal disdain, with Lynn smashing him for three sixes and a four to complete a 19-ball 50. By the 10th over, Kolkata had amassed 116 and required to score at 6.80 an over to complete the win. Lynn and Gambhir guided Kolkata home with 5.1 overs to spare. Lynn remained unbeaten on 93 from 41 balls and Gambhir 76 from 48 balls in the end.