No joy for Shakib in first game

Bangladesh's ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had an inauspicious outing in his first match of the 2017 IPL, and it was a similar outcome for his team Kolkata Knight Riders as they lost by four wickets to Gujarat Lions at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday.

Shakib did not have much to do with the bat in Kolkata's first innings of 187 for five, powered by Sunil Narine's 17-ball 42 and Robin Uthappa's 72 off 48 balls. Shakib came to the crease only to knock the last ball of the innings away for a single.

He then opened the bowling but his first two overs went for 23 as Gujarat openers Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum put all the bowlers to the sword. His next over, after a 20-minute rain break, was better as he conceded eight runs to finish his outing with none for 31 off three overs.

Skipper Suresh Raina (84 off 46) took the team close to the finish line, falling eight runs short of the target, before James Faulkner and Ravindra Jadeja took them home with 10 balls to spare.