IPL 2021, KKR vs DC: Kolkata continues impressive run with 3-wicket win over Delhi

Kolkata Knight Riders scripted yet another impressive win over Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021 clash in Sharjah on Tuesday to stay in the fourth spot and remain in contention for the playoffs.

Former champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is showing no signs of slowing down, as it trumped Delhi Capitals (DC) by three wickets in Match 41 of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. It helps KKR stay at number four, in contention for playoffs, while DC is a win away from sealing its place.

Winning the toss, KKR skipper Eoin Morgan elected to bowl first on a slow-looking track while making a couple of changes. Meanwhile, DC skipper Rishabh Pant too made a change, bringing in Steven Smith for Prithvi Shaw.

DC was off to a steady but shaky start, losing Shikhar Dhawan (24) in the fifth over to pacer Lockie Ferguson, while five runs later, Shreyas Iyer (1) fell to mystery spinner Sunil Narine on the seventh.

DC was off to a steady but shaky start, losing Shikhar Dhawan (24) in the fifth over to pacer Lockie Ferguson, while five runs later, Shreyas Iyer (1) fell to mystery spinner Sunil Narine on the seventh.

It was then followed by a 37-run stand between Steven Smith (39) and Pant (39) before the former departed to Ferguson in the 13th at 77, while Shimron Hetmyer (4) followed him back off spinner Venkatesh Iyer 11 runs later. Thereon, DC continued to lose wickets at regular intervals while Pant was dismissed in the final over, at 122, of an unfortunate run out, with DC finishing at 127/9 and failing to hit a single six in the innings.

KKR utilised six bowlers, with Ferguson, Narine and Venkatesh claiming a wicket each. Of all of them, Narine was the best with his economy as well.

As KKR came out for the chase, it was off to a steady but shaky start, losing Venkatesh Iyer (14) and Rahul Tripathi (9) in the Powerplay at 43. It was followed by a 24-run stand between Shubman Gill (30) and Morgan (0) before both departed at the same score to pacer Kagiso Rabada and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, respectively.

Nonetheless, KKR continued coming up with partnerships every now and then despite the breakthroughs, frustrating DC. It was followed by a 29-run stand between Nitish Rana (36*) and Dinesh Karthik (12) before the latter departed to pacer Avesh in the 15th, at 96. At the same time, Rana had an excellent over against spinner Lalit Yadav.

It was followed by another 26-run stand between Rana and Sunil Narine (21), as the latter's ten-ball blitz outing brought KKR back into the game before falling to pacer Anrich Nortje in the 17th, and Tim Southee (3) the next over to Avesh, just three runs later. Nevertheless, KKR sealed the win by three wickets comfortably to stay in the fourth spot.

DC put six bowlers into that attack, with Avesh claiming a three-for. Although he was the most economical of all, it was not enough to see DC through.
Brief scores: DC 127/9 (Smith- 39, Pant- 39; Ferguson- 2/10) vs KKR 130/7 in 18.2 overs (Gill- 30, Rana- 36*; Avesh- 3/13) by three wickets.