RP Singh leads Deccan Chargers to victory in IPL

Fast bowler RP Singh took four wickets as the Deccan Chargers gained a comfortable eight-wicket win over the Kolkata Knight Riders in their Indian Premier League crown at Newlands on Sunday.

Singh took four for 22 as Kolkata struggled to 101 all out on a lively pitch.

The Chargers needed only 13.1 overs to clinch their win, with Herschelle Gibbs hitting 43 not out and Rohit Sharma 36 not out.

It was an encouraging performance by the Deccan side, who finished last of the eight teams in 2008.

"It's a good start," said Gibbs. "We've got a new captain, a new manager and some new ideas. The team spirit is really good."

With new captain Adam Gilchrist at the helm and former Australian batsman Darren Lehmann as coach, the Chargers kept the Knight Riders under pressure almost from the time Kolkata captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and decided to bat.

McCullum was out early, caught down the leg side off Singh, and Chris Gayle followed soon afterwards, hitting Singh for a four and a six before holing out to deep mid-off.

While Singh took the wickets, West Indian fast bowler Fidel Edwards conceded only two runs in a remarkable opening spell of three overs.

Australian Brad Hodge was the only Kolkata batsman to shine, hitting 31 before falling to a stunning reflex catch by Gibbs at backward point off Scott Styris.

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha took two for 14 in four accurate overs before Singh came back to finish off the tail.

Gilchrist and Gibbs gave Deccan a fast start, putting on 24 in 2.5 overs before Gilchrist was caught for 14.

VVS Laxman was run out for 10 but Gibbs and Sharma saw their team through in an unbeaten stand of 69.