Advertisement

Dhawan denies Knight Riders

cricket12 April 2019 18:17| © MWP
By:Jonhenry Wilson
Share
article image
Shikhar Dhawan © @IPL (Twitter)
[embed:video:id=1058584]

Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan marked a 150th Indian Premier League appearance with a near century in the Delhi Capitals' seven-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Friday.

Full Scorecard

The result pushed Delhi into the top half of the eight-team standings, while Kolkata remained second.

Dhawan almost welcomed the fifth ton of the 2019 tournament en route to 97 not out from 63 deliveries, which featured 11 fours and two sixes. The 2019 IPL's four centuries have been struck by Sunrisers Hyderabad duo Jonny Bairstow and David Warner, Rajasthan Royals star Sanju Samson and Kings XI Punjab wicketkeeper-batsman Lokesh Rahul.

Chasing a 179-run target, the Capitals lost opener Prithvi Shaw and captain Shreyas Iyer relatively early. Their departures left Dhawan to partner fellow lefthander Rishabh Pant across a dominant 105-run alliance inside a dozen overs.

Kolkata deployed seven bowlers to Delhi's five, including New Zealand pace ace Lockie Ferguson, who was the most expensive of the 12. Ferguson, indeed, failed to justify a recall to the XI.

Pant fell late in the pursuit, on the back of a complementary 46, but Dhawan and another lefthander Colin Ingram were at hand to cap triumph with seven deliveries to spare. Ingram didn't allow Dhawan to reach three figures, instead lofting legspinner Piyush Chawla for six to seal victory.

RABADA, RUSSELL TRADE BLOWS

Earlier, South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada and West Indies batsman Andre Russell traded blows in Kolkata's 178 for seven. Rabada increased a tidy lead among this IPL season's top wicket-takers, while Russell raced into the top three run-scorers.

Opener Shubman Gill laid the foundation for Russell during an enterprising 65, which was particularly important after debutant Joe Denly was bowled by seamer Ishant Sharma for a first-ball duck.

Sharma relished impressive economy, which Rabada and fellow Proteas cricketer Chris Morris couldn't replicate. Russell was characteristically aggressive across an entertaining 45 off 21, which was laced with a quartet of sixes.

The Knight Riders won the IPL in 2012 and 2014. The Capitals were previously known as the Daredevils and remain in pursuit of a maiden title, after finishing third twice.

Saturday will see the Mumbai Indians host Rajasthan at the Wankhede Stadium.


KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS: Joe Denly, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (capt & wk), Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna

DELHI CAPITALS: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (capt), Rishabh Pant (wk), Colin Ingram, Chris Morris, Axar Patel, Rahul Tewatia, Keemo Paul, Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma

Advertisement