JAIPUR, India, CMC – Exciting West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine made an unspectacular Indian Premier League debut on Sunday, as he was upstaged by fellow Trinidadian Kevon Cooper.
Narine, who bowled outstandingly in the recent one-day series against Australia in the Caribbean, finished with no wicket for 29 runs from his four-over spell as his Kolkata Knight Riders went down to Rajasthan Royals by 22 runs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Sent in, the Royals raised 164 for five with Australian Brad Hodge top-scoring with 44 and fellow countryman, fast bowler Brett Lee taking two for 29.
Knight Riders were then restricted to 142 all out off their 20 overs, with medium pacer Cooper sustaining his excellent from with three for 28 from his quota of four overs. Manoj Tiwary top-scored with 59.
At the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium in Pune, West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels found form, top-scoring with 46 off 39 balls to help Pune Warriors to a 22-run victory over Kings XI Punjab.
The right-hander, who struggled for runs against Australia in the Caribbean recently, smashed four fours and two sixes, adding 81 for the third wicket with Robin Uthappa (40) as Pune tallied 166 for six.
Samuels then snared one for 23 from four tight overs as Kings XI were held to 144 for eight.