KKR CANTER TO WIN
Delhi Daredevils’ poor form at home continued as they slumped to a six–wicket defeat against the Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL encounter at the Feroz Shah Kotla here on Monday.
Skipper Gautam Gambhir (60) led from the front with a spirited half-century as the Knight Riders chased down the 148-run target with two overs remaining.
This was the ninth consecutive defeat at home ground for Delhi. They had had registered their last win at the Kotla way back in 2013 against Mumbai Indians.
KKR, who clinched their second win on the trot, now have six points from four matches. Delhi (four points) remain rooted in the fourth spot.
Gambhir and Robin Uthappa gave the visitors a quick start, smashing 30 runs in four overs before Muthuswami struck twice in quick succession for Delhi. Uthappa, who started promisingly with a boundary off the very first ball of the innings, tried to hit Muthuswami over mid-off but only succeeded in finding the fielder. Manish Pandey lasted all of three balls before picking out Imran Tahir at third man.
The in-form Surya Kumar Yadav joined Gambhir in the middle and the duo looked to take the battle to the Delhi bowlers with a 48- run partnership. Yadav smashed 24 runs off just 16 balls with a couple of boundaries and a six before edging Nathan Coulter-Nile to the ’keeper.
The dangerous Yusuf Pathan (40 off 26 balls) then played a whirlwind innings to put Kolkata on the road to victory.
Earlier, the Knight Riders produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict the Daredevils to 147/8. KKR skipper Gambhir elected to field first and the decision paid off as the KKR bowlers managed to pick up wickets at regular intervals and did not allow any of the Delhi batsmen to settle.
Delhi suffered an early setback when Mayank Agarwal mistimed a Morne Morkel delivery in the second over. J.P. Duminy was also back in the pavilion soon after, bowled by Sunil Narine while attempting a sweep. Shreyas Iyer played a useful knock, smashing three fours and a six during his 24-ball stay in the middle. But just as the young batsman was beginning to seem dangerous, he was dismissed by Piyush Chawla.