Sharma made 109 off 60 balls in an unbroken 167-run stand with Herschelle Gibbs (66) for Mumbai to reach an impressive 1-182 after electing to bat at Eden Gardens. Sharma, who came in to bat after Sachin Tendulkar's dismissal in the third over, was in the groove straight away by pulling Australian speedster Brett Lee for a six over the square-leg boundary.

He played several fine shots square of the wicket on either side, smashing seamer Rajat Bhatia for 19 in an over. He totalled five sixes and 12 fours in his maiden IPL century and dominated the partnership with Gibbs, who hit two sixes and seven fours in his first IPL appearance this season.

"There was no game plan. I just wanted to go out there and spend some time, which is what usually helps," Sharma said. "I wanted to bat 20 overs as we were batting first and wanted to get a decent target. We knew the pitch was quite slow." Kolkata managed 4-155 in reply, with Jacques Kallis (79) and Yusuf Pathan (40 not out) keeping the home side in the hunt. Pace bowler Munaf Patel bowled captain Gautam Gambhir with a slower delivery for a duck. After opener Manvinder Bisla fell for one to left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha to make it 2-3 in the second over, Kolkata always faced a stiff challenge.

Kallis added 57 for the third wicket with Manoj Tiwary (27) but some tight bowling by the Mumbai bowlers denied them the chance to have a good shot at the target. Kallis struck three sixes and seven fours in 60 balls, while Pathan smashed a six and two fours in 31. Mumbai climb to third place in the standings with eight wins and five losses. Kolkata are second with eight wins, four losses and one no-result.