Delhi pacemen too hot for Kolkata
The pace attack of the Delhi Daredevils thrived on an increasingly lively pitch at Supersport Park on Saturday, as they throttled the Kolkata Knight Riders to just 108 for seven, winning their Champions League T20 contest by 52 runs.
Full Scorecard: Delhi Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders
The Knight Riders’ star trio of Gautum Gambhir, Brendon McCullum and Jacques Kallis couldn’t muster a run between them, as the Kolkata side slumped to 3 for three after just seven balls.
They were effectively 3 for four when Kallis was struck by Morne Morkel on his right index finger, an injury which could threaten the all-rounder’s participation for the rest of the tournament and South Africa’s tour to Australia.
Irfan Pathan (two for 20), Umesh Yadav (two for 13) and Morkel (two for 25) all found extra zip from the track, and the extra bounce and pace blew the Knight Riders away.
Pathan had Gambhir smartly caught on the run by Kevin Pietersen, before he trapped Bisla in front with an in-swinger.
Morkel then had McCullum gobbled up at point for his 100th wicket in T20 cricket, as the Delhi side made a dream start.
When Yadav bowled Yusuf Pathan for 11, the match was already over as a contest. Manoj Tiwary (33) and Rajat Bhatia (26) saved Kolkata’s blushes somewhat, with a stand of 47 for the sixth wicket, and it was a minor achievement for them to get beyond 100.
This video is not available in your region
Earlier, youngster Unmukt Chand had weighed in with a classy 40 off 27 balls for Delhi, while Kiwi star Ross Taylor chipped in with a slick 36 to lift the Delhi side to 160 or eight, after they had been sent in to bat by Gambhir.
The Delhi outfit had got off to a reasonable start, with skipper Mahela Jayawardene (21) and Virender Sehwag (22) adding 36 off the first five overs. Jayawardene was then castled by Sunil Narine’s opening delivery. The West Indian spinner ended with fine figures of three for 21, troubling all the batsmen with his guile.
Sehwag was caught at the wicket off Balaji and then dangerman Kevin Pietersen was snapped up in the deep off Brett Lee for 14.
At 64 for three after ten overs, the Daredevils needed a partnership, which Taylor and Chand provided as they added 63 for the fourth wicket. Both finished with a flourish, combining to club Balaji for 30 off the 17th over.
Narine then returned to put the skids on again, removing Chand and Naman Ojha in the 18th over, which produced a solitary run for the Daredevils.
Balaji surprisingly bowled the last over of the innings, which went for 13 runs, which meant he conceded 61 runs on a day he and his teammates would rather forget.
DELHI DAREDEVILS: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Virender Sehwag, Unmkut Chand, Kevin Pietersen, Ross Taylor,Irfan Pathan, Naman Ojha (wk), Pawan Negi, Ajit Agarkar, Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav.
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS: Gautum Gambhir (capt), Manvinder Bisla (wk), Brendon McCullum, Jacques Kallis, M Tiwary, Yusuf Pathan, Rajat Bhatia, Brett Lee, Sunil Narine, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Pradeep Sangwan
