Ganguly plays the captain's role to perfection

Captain Sourav Ganguly led from the front with a blazing 54-ball 88 to help Kolkata Knight Riders register a comprehensive 24-run win over Deccan Chargers in their Indian Premier League match at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.

It was the team from Kolkata's second win in two matches over the defending champions, following their 11-run win in the tournament opener.

Ganguly hit nine fours and five sixes and added 78 runs for the fourth wicket with David Hussey (31) in a partnership that gave the Kolkata innings the solidity it needed.

He reached his second fifty of this edition with a huge six over long-on off Pragyan Ojha.

And in the left-arm spinner's final over, Ganguly went on the offensive, smashing three sixes.

He lost his wicket in pursuit of a fourth one, when was caught by Rohit Sharma at deep midwicket.

But by then the captain had done what he was supposed to do - lead his side from the front.