| Scores | Upcoming | Results |
New Delhi: Gautam Gambhir top scored with 69 as Kolkata Knight Riders managed a win after four successive defeats. KKR chased down the 160 made by Delhi Daredevils with 10 balls to spare at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi on Wednesday.
Led by skipper Gautam Gambhir (69) and his opening partner, Robin Uthappa (47), the Kolkata Knight Riders registered a massive eight-wicket away win against the Delhi Daredevils. Chasing 161, the KKR openers put up yet another century stand, which, this time, helped their side bag the two points on offer.
Earlier, DD won the toss – their first of the tournament – and chose to bat first. Quinton de Kock and Murali Vijay opened the batting for the hosts. But before he could make a telling impact, de Kock (10) was dismissed by Umesh Yadav in the third over. Then, with the DD score on 26 in 5.3 overs, Kevin Pietersen (6) was run out.
Dinesh Karthik then came in to bat and added 35 runs during a 3.3 over stretch for the third wicket with Vijay (24). However, Kallis got rid of the latter in the ninth over.
But Karthik (36) continued to steady the DD innings, until falling prey to Shakib Al Hasan in the 12th over. JP Duminy was then joined by Laxmi Shukla (10), who did not stick around long enough to make a substantial contribution, he was cleaned up by Sunil Narine.
With their team on 105 for five, Kedar Jadhav paired up with Duminy, who had got his eye in by that point. However, it was Jadhav (26*) who led the charge as he went after the KKR bowlers – but Duminy (40*) did follow suit by striking a few big hits himself. The duo ended up adding a staggering 55 runs in just 25 balls during their unbroken partnership. Thanks to the efforts of the sixth-wicket pair, DD notched up 160 for five in their 20 overs.
In reply, Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir opened the KKR innings. They gave their team a solid start and scored a total of 52 runs in the powerplay. Both batsmen unleashed a wide array of strokes for which the DD bowlers had no answers. They took the score past the three-figure mark in the 11th over itself, this was the duo’s second straight century stand. But just when it seemed like both batsmen’s defense was impenetrable, Wayne Parnell trapped Uthappa (47) leg-before in the 12th over, breaks 106 stand for first wicket.
However, with Manish Pandey for company, Gambhir continued to rally on. The KKR skipper soon brought up his half-century. The KKR 150 then came up in the 17th over. But finally DD got a second breakthrough as Parnell had Gambhir (69) caught behind; the KKR captain’s 56-ball knock proved to be the backbone of a successful run-chase.
And although Gambhir was not around till the end, Pandey and Jacques Kallis ended up taking the Knight Rides over the line with eight wickets in hand and 10 balls to spare.
Earlier, Delhi Daredevils have won the toss and opted to bat first.
DD have made one change - Sidharth Kaul in for Jaidev Unadkat. KKR also have made one change - Jacques Kallis is back, Andre Russell makes way.
Teams
Delhi: Q de Kock, M Vijay, KP Pietersen (Capt.), KD Karthik (wk), LR Shukla, JP Duminy, KM Jadhav, WD Parnell, S Nadeem, Mohammed Shami, S Kaul
Kolkata: RV Uthappa (wk), G Gambhir (Capt.), MK Pandey, JH Kallis, Shakib Al Hasan, YK Pathan, RN ten Doeschate, SA Yadav, R Vinay Kumar, SP Narine, UT Yadav
Brief scores
Delhi Daredevils - 160/5 (Duminy 40*, Karthik 36)
Kolkata Knight Riders - 161/2 (Gambhir 69, Uthappa 47, Parnell 2-21)
Result - Kolkata Knight Riders won by 8 wickets
Points - Kolkata Knight Riders 2, Delhi Daredevils 0
