Kolkata skipper Gautam Gambhir played yet another captain's knock as his third consecutive half-century laid the foundation of a big score, which though eluded the home team.
Opted to bat, the Knight Riders were off to a blazing start with Gambhir (56 from 36 balls) and Brendon McCullum (42 off 43 balls) putting on 113 runs, their highest opening stand of the season.
Kolkata would be disappointed as their star-studded middle-order flopped yet again. They scored just 29 runs in the last five overs and lost three wickets.
Pune were under the pump when Gambhir and McCullum were batting but once left-hander fell to Murali Karthik and McCullum became a victim of Sri Lankan paceman Angelo Mathews, complexion of the match changed.
In the first half of the KKR innings, erratic bowling by the Warriors -- they leaked nine wides inside the powerplay -- helped the cause of the hosts as they raced to 68 for no loss in the first six overs.
Gambhir made his intention clear in the very second ball, pulling Karthik over fine-leg for a boundary and hooked Dinda's bouncer attempt over midwicket in the next over.
Also Read
Gambhir then smashed Dinda for consecutive six and a four to collect 19 runs from his over.
The pressure was clearly palpable in the Warriors camp as Dinda dropped an easy sitter, giving McCullum a reprieve on 28 as the Knight Riders opening duo bettered their previous best -- 95 against Royal Challengers Bangalore.