All round performance gives KKR their third home win on the trot against the Delhi Daredevils
Kolkata, May 8 (IANS)
A superb all-round performance enabled Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinch their third home game on the trot with a 13-run win over the Delhi Daredevils in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter here on Thursday. Chasing the Knights' 171/7, the Daredevils could only reach 158/6 at the end of their allotted 20 overs at the Eden Gardens.
The victory propelled the hosts to the third position on the leaderboard, with 13 points from 11 games. The Daredevils now languish in the seventh position, collecting eight points from eleven outings.
Shreyas Iyer (40;35b, 3x4 2x6) scored for the Daredevils while man of the match, Piyush Chawla, (four for 32) was the pick of the bowlers for the home side.
Chasing the Knights' total, the visitors got off to a steady start, with openers Manoj Tiwary and Iyer ensuring there were no early jolts, even though the bowlers kept them on a leash.
Chawla expensive but effective
Just when the partnership seemed threatening for the home side, Chawla got rid of Tiwary( 25). Iyer soon followed his partner into the dugout chopping a Brad Hoog drifter on to his stumps, with the team total reading 71/2 in 10.6 overs.
Kedar Jadhav and skipper JP Duminy steadied the innings lofting a few into the stands, but an otherwise expensive Chawla turned the game on his head as he pocketed both Jadhav (10) and Yuvraj Singh (0) in the 14thAover.
Daredevils' went past the 100 run mark in the 15th over but then lost their well set skipper Duminy (25;16b, 2x4 1x6) as he heaved another Chawla delivery straight down the throat of Umesh Yadav in the deep.
The 17th over from Hogg proved expensive as the willowers belted him for 17. However, the next one from Umesh was bang on target yielding just seven. Russell followed it up with another stupendous over giving away only six runs and cleaning Angelo Mathews (22).
Yusuf Pathan helps KKR reach 171
Earlier in the day, the Knights rode on late cameos from all-rounder Yusuf Pathan and South African spinner Johan Botha (17; 5b, 4x4). Playing as many as four front line spinners including spin ace Sunil Narine, Knights skipper Gautam Gambhir chose to bat first after winning the toss.
Pathan (42;24b 3x4 3x6) hit some lusty blows to top score for his side. Opener Robin Uthappa (32; 31b 4x4 1x6) also played a useful innings.
For the visitors, spinner Imran Tahir returned figures of 2 for 46.