Kallis shines in Kolkata's win over defending champions

Jacques Kallis' quickfire 72 from just 46 balls helped Kolkata beat defending champions Mumbai by 41 runs, in the first match of the Indian T20 league in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

2012's champions, Kolkata, got off to a weak start and lost their captain Gautam Gambhir for zero in the second over.

Gambhir's dismissal brought Kallis and Manish Pandey together and they helped rebuild the innings. After scoring just six runs in the first eight balls they faced, Pandey cut loose.

He clubbed Corey Anderson for a six and a four in the fourth over. Kallis, at the other end, took his time to switch gears.

The allrounder hit his first boundary in the ninth over and his second in the 13th. He was dropped in the 14th over, at short fine leg, and that prompted the onslaught.

He smacked Pragyan Ojha for two sixes and a four in the next over and then Kieron Pollard for two fours in the next. He also swatted Zaheer Khan for a six over the deep midwicket boundary, before he was dismissed.

Kallis helped his side post a respectable 163 runs in their innings. Mumbai's batsmen struggled against Kolkata's spinners, who accounted for six of the seven wickets to fall. The star-studded Mumbai outfit managed just 122 in their innings.

"Had a good few months off. Nice to catch up with friends and family, but I worked had on my cricket to help Kolkata this season," Kallis said.

"There was more bounce this season which suited us. We kept the good balls out at the start and cashed in later. Morne's start with the ball was great and Narine was brilliant as well. I probably haven't got too many years left and I'm just looking forward to having some fun in the middle"