Chennai Super Kings opened their account in the 2010 Indian Premier League with a 55-run win over the Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni from the front with 66 not out as the Super Kings, beaten by the Deccan Chargers in their opening game, posted 164-3. Kolkta never came close in reply, managing just 109, as they suffered their first defeat in three outings in this season's competition. South Africa all-rounder Justin Kemp picked up 3-12 for Chennai having not been required to bat earlier in the evening.

Matthew Hayden managed just a single before dragging on a delivery from Ishant Sharma while fellow opener Murali Vijay perished in similar fashion off the bowling of Laxmi Shukla having made 33. When Suresh Raina was bowled by Brad Hodge for 18, the Super Kings were in a spot of trouble at 55-3 in the 10th over.

Blistering Knock

However, Dhoni swung the momentum back in his side's favour with a blistering 33-ball knock that included six fours and three sixes. Subramaniam Badrinath, who finished up on 43 not out, kept his captain company in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership worth 109.

Kolkata simply never recovered from losing the in-form Hodge to the second ball of their reply, slumping to 55-5 in a hurry. Balaji removed Wriddhiman Saha (22) and Owaih Shah (five) in successive overs before Kemp took centre stage, Knight Riders captain Sourav Ganguly becoming his first victim for 11. The right-arm seamer went on to trap the dangerous Angelo Mathews leg before for five, while Rohan Gavaskar became his final victim when he was well caught in the deep by Vijay. Shukla offered some resistance with 19 but the hosts failed to even bat out their overs, Murali Karthik being the last to fall when he was run out for 21.