In a turnaround match, Kolkatta Knight Riders stunned Chennai Super Kings to win the first group match of Oppo CLT20 2014 by three wickets on Wednesday.

Chasing a target of 158 runs, Kolkatta had a bad start to their innings losing 3 wickets with only 10 runs on the board. Ashish Nehra bowled brilliantly for Chennai removing 2 batsmen in consecutive balls in the second over. Mohit Sharma then sent back the dangerous Yusuf Pathan when he had just started his innings at one run. Two more wickets fell in quick succession, with the score reading a paltry 51/5 in 9 overs.

The responsibility was then taken over by Netherlands' all-rounder Ryan Ten Doeschate and West Indian Andre Russell, who scripted a remarkable comeback for their team. Both of them showed good nerves to have a sixth-wicket partnership of 80 runs, smashing fours and sixes all around the field. Russell was dismissed by Nehra for 58 runs that came in 25 balls and were flavoured with 4 fours and 5 sixes. Russell was awarded the man of the match for his brilliant performance. Ten Doeschate stayed till the end to ensure his team's win in the 19th over.

Earlier in the first innings, the Chennai score was consolidated by small contribution from every batsman. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the top scorer for his team with 35 not out. He and Bravo shared a fifth wicket partnership of 71 runs that helped the Chennai Super Kings reach a respectable score of 157 runs. In this innings, the Kolkatta spinners were successful in taking wickets and containing the overall score. In contrast, in the second innings, the Chennai spinners were hit for the maximum runs.

In the next group match, Kings XI Punjab of India will meet Hobart Hurricanes of Australia on Thursday at 2:30 pm GMT. There have been no previous meetings of these two teams. Punjab is led by Australian George Bailey and wicketkeeper Tim Paine is the captain of Hobart Hurricanes.