Kolkata Knight Riders gave another display of its exemplary team work, highlighted by Nathan Coulter-Nile's three-wicket haul and Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa's half-centuries, to post a crushing seven-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League at the Eden Gardens here on Friday.
After restricting DD to 160 for six, KKR cruised to the winning target in 16.2 overs and strengthened its position with its seventh victory.
DD, which could not capitalise on its 41 for no loss in four overs and eventually tasted its fourth consecutive defeat, fared miserably.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Sanju Samson and Karun Nair exhibited some stunning shots before the latter was trapped in front by Sunil Narine in the fifth over.
Sanju (60 off 38 balls) showed his good touch as he thrashed Umesh Yadav for a graceful four past mid-on and an exhilarating six over square-leg in the second over. He also played some fine shots off Chris Woakes before slowing down inexplicably.
Sanju, who raced to his first 25 run off just nine deliveries, completed his first half-century of the season off 32 balls. He shared a 75-run stand from 55 balls with Shreyas Iyer, whose his first 18 runs came without a shot to the fence.
They parted ways soon after trying to accelerate the scoring rate. Sanju was adjudged lbw off Umesh in the 14th over.
KKR bowlers did a superb job in the middle overs with Narine and Kuldeep, who dropped two catches of his own bowling in the 17th over, keeping it tight with their variation. Woakes altered his length smartly to provide some help.
But it was Coulter-Nile who underlined his utility for KKR by rapping the pads of Rishabh Pant and Iyer (47 off 34) in the 16th over and claiming Chris Morris in the final.
DD managed only 37 off the last five overs.
In reply, the in-form pair of Gambhir and Uthappa butchered the DD attack and put KKR on the driver's seat by gathering 108 runs from 66 deliveries.
Uthappa, who had delegated the wicketkeeper's responsibility to Sheldon Jackson after the ninth over due to an issue his left leg, showed no signs of discomfort as he plundered 59 from 33 balls, including five fours and four sixes, to record his fourth fifty. His furious stroke play was at its peak when the Bangalorean, who offered a chance early on, slammed two sixes punctuated by a four off successive deliveries in Morris' first over.
Gambhir played his role well as he cut and pulled with confidence to get his fourth half-century, an unbeaten 52-ball 71, containing 11 boundaries. He stayed on till the end to see his side cross the ropes.
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