Delhi Daredevils reclaimed the top spot in the DLF Indian Premier League table with a clinical nine-wicket demolition of luckless, hapless Kolkata Knight Riders at Kingsmead here on Tuesday.
Delhi Daredevils bowlers, especially leg-spinner Amit Mishra and pacemen Ashish Nehra and Pradeep Sangwan can take credit for stopping Knight Riders from running away to a huge score as seemed possible when Brendon McCullum and Morne van Wyk raised 58 runs in the first seven overs. Knight Riders finished with 154 for three in 20 overs, at least 20 runs short of par.
Mishra came into the attack as early as in the third over - replacing an expensive Dirk Nannes - and managed a superb first spell of three overs in which he conceded 18 overs. He returned to bowl a maiden over to Moses Henriques in the 14th over to effectively apply the brakes on Knight Riders's scoring.
Gautam Gambhir, leading Delhi Daredevils again in Virender Sehwag's absence owing to injury, played the anchoring effort to see his team home in 19 overs. He made 71 not out, sharing partnerships of 60 with David Warner (36) and an unbroken 97 with Tillekeratne Dilshan (42 not out) even as the Knight Riders dropped a few catches yet again.
After Chennai Super Kings took the place at the top of the ladder with a superb win on Monday night, Delhi Daredevils moved back there with 10 points from five wins in seven games. They have played one match fewer than both Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals who both have nine points each from eight games.
Kolkata Knight Riders have been unable to stop the slump that the side went into when losing the game against Rajasthan Royals in Cape Town. They have now lost seven games of the nine and have not been able to add to the three points from a win over Kings XI Punjab and a rained off game with Chennai Super Kings.
No comments:
Post a Comment