Kolkata on a roll, Delhi on the brink

Kolkata, APril 28

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa’s pyrotechnics with the bat handed Delhi Daredevils a seven-wicket defeat here today. This was Delhi’s fourth loss on the trot, and now their chances of making the playoffs look extremely slim.

Chasing 161, Uthappa and Gambhir put together a 108-run partnership off just 66 balls to lay the foundation for the big win. After Uthappa was run out for a 33-ball 59, Gambhir took the centre stage and guided the team home with an unbeaten 52-ball 71 with 22 balls to spare. He also completed 6000 runs in T20 cricket.

This was the fourth century partnership between  Gambhir and Uthappa in IPL while chasing — the most by any pair, they bettered David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan’s three.  KKR haven’t lost while chasing at Eden Gardens since the 2012 edition of the tournament. With 14 points from nine games, they already have a foot in the playoffs.  Delhi’s campaign, on the other hand, is on the rocks with just four points from seven matches. 

If Delhi batsmen made a mess of their spectacular start, their fielders added to their woes as Gambhir and Uthappa went about their chase in a professional manner. Uthappa made full use of a reprieve on nine to lead the charge. He smashed a 24-ball half-century, his fourth from nine games this season. Three Delhi fielders — Amit Mishra, Sanju Samson and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant — rushed to take an Uthappa skier but, in the end, no one went for the catch. 

Nathan pulls Delhi back 

Making a comeback in place of Darren Bravo, Nathan Coulter-Nile (3/34) led a KKR fightback to restrict Delhi Daredevils to a below-par 160/6 after they were 41 without loss in four overs. Coulter-Nile has picked two or more wickets in each of the four games he has played this season. Delhi lost their way at the death as they managed only 29 in the last five overs and lost four wickets. Sanju Samson (60 from 38 balls) and Shreyas Iyer (47 from 34) gave them a solid start but their run-rate slipped as KKR fought back through Coulter-Nile. — PTI