CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
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Sports / Cricket

Delhi thumps Kolkata by 44 runs in Indian Premier League

Published: 10 Apr 2022 - 07:41 pm | Last Updated: 10 Apr 2022 - 07:49 pm
Twitter: Delhi Capitals

Twitter: Delhi Capitals

AP

MUMBAI, India  - Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav grabbed three wickets in four balls as Delhi Capitals thrashed Kolkata Knight Riders by 44 runs in the Indian Premier League on Sunday.

Kuldeep dealt a triple blow to Kolkata's pursuit of Delhi’s strong total of 215-5 when he claimed the wickets of Pat Cummins and Sunil Narine before holding onto a splendid two-handed diving catch to dismiss Umesh Yadav in the 16th over.

Kolkata was bowled out for 171 in 19.4 overs with Shardul Thakur claiming the last two wickets.

Captain Shreyas Iyer had kept Kolkata in the hunt of a huge target by scoring 54 runs off 33 balls before he was outfoxed by Kuldeep’s turning delivery and stumped in the 13th over as Delhi’s premier spinner finished with figures of 4-35.

Fast bowler Khaleel Ahmed took 3-25 that included the key strikes of openers Venkatesh Iyer (18) and Ajinkya Rahane (8) in the batting powerplay that stalled Kolkata's chase.

Earlier, after being put into bat, Delhi prospered with an opening stand between David Warner (61) and Prithvi Shaw (51). Both batters scored freely in a 93-run stand, compiling 50 runs in the first four overs.

Warner didn’t allow the bowling attack to settle down with his clean hitting as the Australian batter dominated Kolkata's pace and spin.

"Felt pretty good," Warner said. "Prithvi is an exciting player and he takes the pressure off."

Skipper Rishabh Pant played a little cameo of 27 off 14 as only Narine returned impressive figures of 2-21 off his four overs.

Thakur (29 not out) and Axar Patel (22 not out) added a rapid 49 runs off the last 20 balls that included 39 in the last two overs of Pat Cummins (0-51) and Umesh Yadav (1-48).

"They got off to a really quick start (and) we were a bit clueless what to do,” Iyer said. "They built on a really good partnership at the start and carried that till the 10th over. We made a decision (to field first) and that didn’t work out well.”

Despite its second defeat in five games, Kolkata has six points and sits on top of the table while Delhi moved to sixth place with four points from four games.