Synopsis: Disciplined bowling and another Phil Salt fifty help KKR defeat DC in a low-scoring encounter
A day before the match, Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Chandrakant Pandit had said they don’t want to “crib” about their bowling in the middle of the tournament. On Monday, the KKR bowlers, led by spinner Varun Chakravarthy, showed why the coach was not overtly worried as the hosts restricted a dangerous Delhi Capitals line-up to 153/9.
DC captain Rishabh Pant’s decision to bat first looked to be a curious one at first glance given that the Eden Gardens has generally favoured the chasing team during night games.
However, the start seemed an auspicious one for the visitors. In the first over, Mitchell Starc, returning to the KKR line-up after sitting out the match against Punjab Kings, was hit for three consecutive fours by Prithvi Shaw, signalling Delhi’s intent. But Shaw didn’t stay for long as Vaibhav Arora, the man used to providing the first breakthrough for Kolkata this season, sent him back for 13.
Next to go was Jake Fraser-McGurk, who smashed Starc for a six and a four, threatening to replicate his knock against Mumbai Indians. But the veteran Australian pacer would get one up on his compatriot when he sent the youngster back for 12 as Kolkata took an early hold on the game.
Arora would strike again in the 4th over when he cleaned up Shai Hope with a peach of a delivery for just 6 as Delhi were reduced to 37/3.
What a way to wrap up a solid all-round show 💥
A commanding performance by Kolkata Knight Riders at home 💜
And that win helps them consolidate their position in the points table 🤝
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/eTZRkma6UM#TATAIPL | #KKRvDC | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/FFBYyylTKU
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 29, 2024
Abishek Porel and Pant steadied a faltering innings somewhat, with the former being the initial aggressor when he took on Harshit Rana and mined 16 from the 5th over with the help of two fours and a six. Pant would do his bit as well, even smashing the economical Sunil Narine with a vintage swat for a six in his very first over. The two would add 30 runs in the last two overs of the Powerplay to help Delhi post a respectable 67/3.
Harshit would strike back though, when Porel, trying to play a scoop, left his stumps exposed and was bowled. Pant would last three more overs after that, surviving a dropped chance at 18, only for Chakravarthy to dismiss him for 27.
The mystery spinner would strike again with the wicket of Tristan Stubbs as Delhi’s hopes of posting a big total were extinguished after losing six wickets even before reaching three figures.
The procession would continue with Capitals losing Axar Patel and Kumar Kushagra in quick succession as Chakravarthy finished with figures of 3/16. Kuldeep Yadav stayed unbeaten at 35, which was the top score for the team.
Salt sizzles again
Knights were big favourites for an easy victory chasing such a modest total. Delhi didn’t do much to improve their chances when seamer Lizaad Williams was slapped for a boundary off the very delivery by former DC player Salt. The Englishman would follow that up with a six and a boundary while his partner Narine ended the over with a four of his own as Williams yielded 23 from it.
The night would get more difficult for Williams as in the second over, he dropped a dolly which would have sent back Salt for 15. The opener would make Capitals pay as he smashed two sixes in the 3rd over as Kolkata reached 50 in the fifth over.
Phil Salt on song here at the Eden Gardens 🎶@KKRiders have already reached 40/0 in the chase ⚡️⚡️
Watch the match LIVE on @StarSportsIndia and @JioCinema 💻📱#TATAIPL | #KKRvDC pic.twitter.com/fAQiG2rRwf
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 29, 2024
There was no let-up as the two openers kept swinging at everything, mining boundaries almost at will. Kolkata had their eyes on a big boost to their net run rate. Salt completed his 50 in 26 balls, his fourth in this edition of the IPL, helping KKR post 79/0 in the Powerplay.
Narine wouldn’t last long after the first six overs, falling to Axar for 15 runs. Salt, however, wouldn’t be deterred. With Rinku Singh, who was promoted to No.3, he continued his assault on the hapless Delhi bowlers but couldn’t see his team through, getting cleaned up by Axar for 68 runs off 33 balls.
Iyers see Kolkata through
Rinku couldn’t capitalise on the chance as he was surprised by a rising delivery from Williams, which induced a top-edge taken by Kuldeep.
However, Delhi’s hopes for a turnaround were snuffed out by Shreyas Iyer who struck back-to-back boundaries in the 11th over to relieve any pressure. The skipper, along with Venkatesh Iyer, slowly and steadily sapped the energy out of the Delhi players on a sultry evening with occasional boundaries and plenty of twos and singles.
The grind was fully reflected when a tired Williams let a ball slip through his fingers near the boundary for a four in the dying stage of the match.
Shreyas and Venkatesh both stayed not out with 33 and 26 respectively as Kolkata coasted to 7-wicket win in just 16.3 overs.
Brief scores: Delhi Capitals 153/9 in 20 overs (Kuldeep Yadav 35 not out; Varun Chakravarthy 3/16) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 157/3 in 16.3 overs (Phil Salt 68; Axar Patel 2/25) by 7 wickets