Kolkata record emphatic 71-run over Delhi in IPL
Punjab survive Dhoni’s charge, Rajasthan beat Bangalore by 19 runs
KOLKATA, India, April 16, (AP): Nitish Rana hit an aggressive 59 and Andre Russell smashed 41 off 12 balls as Kolkata Knight Riders thrashed Delhi Daredevils by 71 runs in the Indian Premier League on Monday.
Thanks to Rana and Russell, Kolkata posted 200-8.
Delhi lost wickets in clusters and was bowled out for 129 in 14.2 overs. Spinners Sunil Narine (3-18) and Kuldeep Yadav (3-32) finished off the rout.
“The wrist spinners are picked in the IPL for a purpose. They’re doing a good job for us,” Kolkata captain Dinesh Karthik said.
Kolkata earned its second win, while Delhi suffered its third loss in four games.
After losing the toss and being put in to bat, Kolkata was given a platform by Robin Uthappa (35) and Chris Lynn (31) at the top of the order.
Delhi seemed to be in control at 117-4 after Kolkata lost Karthik on 19 in the 14th over. Then Russell was dropped on 7 by Jason Roy and Russell took full advantage. He smashed six sixes off Mohammad Shami’s two overs that cost the seamer 42 runs, and Rana completed his half-century off 30 balls.
Trent Boult, who bowled a firstover maiden to Lynn, returned and clean bowled Russell with a yorker.
Rana holed out to Gautam Gambhir when he was deceived by Chris Morris’ slower delivery. Rana’s 59 off 35 deliveries included five fours and four sixes.
Delhi legspinner Rahul Tewatia took 3-18, all of his wickets in the last over. Delhi’s chase stuttered at 24-3.
Glenn Maxwell (47) and Rishabh Pant (43) gave Delhi a glimmer of hope with a 62-run fourth wicket stand off 33 balls.
But Kolkata came back hard and Delhi lost its last seven wickets for 43 runs in 5.5 overs.
Yadav hurried the collapse when Pant and Maxwell both were caught in the deep while going for big shots off the left-arm spinner, and Narine ran through the tail-enders.
Earlier, Kings XI Punjab survived Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s onslaught to beat Chennai Super Kings by four runs in the Indian Premier League on Sunday.
Earlier, Sanju Samson bludgeoned 92 off 45 balls and spearheaded Rajasthan Royals to a 19-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Chennai nearly pulled off its third successive last-over victory before finishing on 193-5 with Dhoni, braving back pain, unbeaten on 79 off 44 balls with six fours and five sixes.
After being put into bat, Chris Gayle made a resounding debut for Punjab by smashing 63 off 33 balls, including seven fours and four sixes in Punjab’s total of 197-7.
“It was a close one, which is important, because it shows you’re competing,” Dhoni said.
Gayle was picked by Punjab at the last minute at his base price of only $312,000 after the hard-hitting West Indies opener was ignored in early IPL auction rounds this year.
Gayle and Lokesh Rahul (37) gave Punjab a lightning start of 96 off just 48 balls, against both pace and experienced spinners Harbhajan Singh (1-41) and Imran Tahir (2-34).
Gayle finally fell in the 12th over when Shane Watson’s short delivery found the edge as the left-hander tried to get away but was caught at fine leg.
Chennai pulled back Punjab from racking up a big total after Gayle’s dismissal and conceded only 43 in the last five overs.
Tahir conceded 17 in his first over against Gayle’s early blitz but took two wickets for 17 more runs in his next three overs.