Delhi Capitals beat Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets in IPL

Kolkata, April 13: In IPL Cricket, Delhi Capitals beat Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets at Eden Gardens in Kolkata last night. Chasing 179 runs for victory, Delhi Capitals reached the target by losing three wickets with 7 balls to spare.

 

Shikhar Dhawan scored unbeaten 97 off 63 balls while Rishabh Pant made 46 runs. Earlier, put in to bat, Kolkata Knight Riders posted a challenging total of 178 for seven in the stipulated 20 overs. Andre Russell blazed away to a 21-ball 45 after Shubman Gill's brisk half-century 65 off 39 balls.

Shikhar Dhawan was denied a maiden T20 century, but Delhi Capitals would gladly take the two points that took them to their fourth win of the season. That he missed out on the landmark was because Colin Ingram decided to launch Piyush Chawla over long-on with Capitals needing five off eight deliveries.

Kolkata Knight Riders, who slumped to their second straight defeat, should've ended with a bigger score than their 178 for 7. Promoted to open in place of the missing Sunil Narine, Shubman Gill notched up his second IPL half-century, a 39-ball 65, to set it up for the box-office boy Andre Russell.

The Jamaican posted his sixth 40-plus score, making 45 off 21, but a slowdown in between, partly because of Nitish Rana's struggles against spin, played a hand in the final total. It was soon after this stifle that Capitals carefully used Kagiso Rabada, and unleashed him later against Russell, who had his revenge this time around. Yet, there was a lingering feeling that Capitals would've gladly taken a chase of 179.

 

Then in the chase, Dhawan, who has been sluggish so far in the tournament, pottering around in the Powerplay to put immense pressure on the middle order, came out flying high and swatting short deliveries to the square boundaries. He was helped in no small measure by Rishabh Pant as they won by seven wickets.

Today, Mumbai Indians will take on Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai at 4 PM, while Kings Eleven Punjab will clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore in Mohali at 8 PM.