Brian Lara’s Mumbai Champs grabbed their first win of the Indian Cricket League with a narrow seven-run victory against the Kolkata Tigers at the Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh, in yesterday’s day/night 20/20 encounter.

Lara was not needed at the crease in his team’s innings of 187 that cost them just three wickets, Man-of-the-Match Shreyas Khanolkar registering one of two half-centuries for the Champs in their 20 overs.

The consolation win came as they then skittled the Tigers’ lower order to restrict them to 180 for nine when the overs ran out.

Former New Zealand all-rounder Nathan Astle led the bowling with three for 26 in his four overs.

The Champs, skippered by Lara, lost their previous encounter on Sunday against the Chandigarh Lions by 38 runs, after Astle’s countryman Chris Cairns blasted 70 in just 26 balls.

In his team’s chase of the Lions’ total of 219, Lara opened in a losing effort after scoring just nine runs, the Champs being out for 181.

Brief Scores:

Mumbai Champs - 187 runs for 3 wickets in 20 overs.

Batting: SN Khanolkar - 64 runs from 39 balls, Subhojit Paul - 50 runs from 41 balls.

Bowling: Lance Klusener - 2 wickets for 29 runs.

Kolkata Tigers: 180 runs for 9 wickets from 20 overs

Batting: AA Jhunjhunwala 32 runs from 22 balls

Bowling: Nathan Astle - 3 wickets for 26 runs