KKR vs DC Highlights, IPL 2021: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Delhi Capitals by three wickets
IPL 2021 Highlights, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Delhi Capitals (DC): Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Delhi Capitals by three wickets to climb up to third on the points-table. Chasing 128 to win, KKR lose opener Venkatesh Iyer and batsman Rahul Tripathi to Lalit Yadav and Avesh Khan respectively. Kagiso Rabada and R Ashwin then struck two more blows to remove Shubman Gill and skipper Eoin Morgan which rocked KKR's chase. But Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine launched a counter attack with precision, one that dug KKR out of a hole. Narine fell trying to finish things off but Rana applied the finishing touches 10 balls to spare. In the first innings, DC were restricted to 127/9. KKR picked up two quick wickets after skipper Morgan won the toss and elected to bowl. Lockie Ferguson dismissed the dangerous Shikhar Dhawan, while Narine got rid of Shreyas Iyer. Ferguson then picked up a second wicket, getting the wicket of the well-set Steve Smith for 39. It was then Venkatesh Iyer, who picked up his maiden IPL wicket and followed it with another. Rishabh Pant scored 39 off 36, the only other significant contribution as a flurry of wickets in the final five overs prevented them from breaching the 130-run mark....Read More
Follow KKR vs DC, Match 41, IPL 2021 Highlights
Rana hits the winning runs, KKR slay Delhi Capitals
Rana gives himself room and cuts it hard. The ball flies and beats a diving Kagiso Rabada for a four and with that, Kolkata Knight Riders have beaten Delhi Capitals by three wickets. The little stutter did not last long as DC made a few errors and allowed KKR to get away. 128 isn't the toughest of targets to chase down but DC's bowlers responded well restricting KKR to 96/5, but Narine and Rana's attacking innings gave KKR the confidence to see it through. With the win, KKR go to 10 points, two below Royal Challengers Bangalore, while DC are handed their third defeat and will have to wait in order to secure a place in the Playoffs.
Narine falls but the wicket too late for DC
It was fun and entertaining while it lasted but as Sunil Narine goes, he would be happy knowing that he has done his job with the bat. Not too much left for KKR to get now. Just 5 more.
IPL 2021 Live Cricket Score, KKR vs DC: Pant takes a blow to his fingers
Nortje fired in at the speeds he is known to. Rana tried to glide the ball but the ball was so quick that he beat him even before he could properly bring his bad down. Rishabh Pant, the keeper, takes the blow right at the top of his fingers. Play has been stopped briefly and the magic spray is out.
SIX more for Narine
6, 4, 6 - that's what Sunil Narine has managed to get off the last three balls. The no-ball clearly has had an affect on Rabada's bowling and done wonders for KKR as Narine is taking it all out on the fast bowler.
Top edge for SIX
Short ball from Rabada and Narine plays the exuberant pull shot. Top edge and it flies all the way for a six behind the wicketkeeper. Follows it with a boundary, as he plays a cracking pull shot staying back in his crease. Narine doing what he does best with the bat. Throw it around.
Rabada oversteps
As things were tightening up and the break was being pressed, Rabada gives a free-hit to KKR. Narine, on strike, couldn't time it as well as he'd have liked to and completes a couple of runs.
WICKET! Avesh Khan picks up his 2nd
GONE! Karthik plays on as Avesh picks up his 2nd wicket. The pressure of tight overs catching up to DC now. Karthik tries to run the ball down to third man but chops it on for a soft dismissal. KKR five down for 96 as DC pull things back.
20 off the over
And now it's Karthik, who tries to put pressure on Lalit and succeeds at doing so. Not the prettiest of strokes but effective as he slashes the ball behind for boundary. Just the over KKR needed with two wickets falling in quick succession.
Lalit to Rana: SIX, SIX
Nitish Rana gives Lalit Yadav the charge and gets it all the way for back to back sixes. The first one was down the ground, smoked handsomely. The next ball was almost a slog sweep but a lot better. Goes the distance towards cow corner. That went to a distance of 87 metres.
KKR vs DC Live Score: Karthik takes 6 off two balls from Rabada
A beautiful-looking cover drive from Karthik gets him a couple of runs. Next ball, Karthik tries to cut the fast bowler but gets an inner edge for the ball to go behind for a four.
WICKET: Ashwin gets his revenge
GONE! Ashwin gets his man as he sends KKR skipper Eoin Morgan back for duck. They involved in a bit of a heated exchange in the first innings and now sparks fly again as the off-spinner gives him a small send off after getting him out caught at first slip. KKR are 4 down for 67.
Wicket! That's it for Gill
OUT! Brilliant from Rabada, who bowls a wicket maiden for his first over to send Shubman Gill back. Cuts back some pace and Gill tried to tonk it into the stands. The lack of pace did not allow Gill to get the timing right and that's curtains for the young KKR opener.
Rana cuts over the in-field for FOUR
Once again, Lalit darts a quicker one, short this time. Nitish Rana slices the ball over the top of the infield and the ball races away to the boundary.
Nine overs bowled
62 runs scored in the first 9 overs. KKR would be content with their start. While they may have lost 2 wickets, the fact that they are chasing 128 to win, it's not going to worry them too much. Exactly a run a ball needed now for KKR - 66 off 66.
KKR vs DC Live Score: Ashwin to Rana - FOUR
It looked like being a tight over from R Ashwin but Rana spoiled that over with a boundary off the last ball. Four singles off the first five balls followed by a boundary made it 8 off the over. KKR scoring at over the required run-rate.
Gill goes high and handsome
Shubman Gill brings out the slog sweep and it lands over the ropes. For a moment there, it looked like Steve Smith would pull off another fabulous catch but the ball had just enough to beat him and sail over his head.
WICKET! Smith plucks a sharp catch to dismiss Tripathi
OUT! Avesh Khan strikes in his first over as Rahul Tripathi is out to a fine catch by Steve Smith, KKR 43/2 in 5.5 overs. A successful over by the India quick.
SIX for Tripathi, FOUR for Gill
Rahul Tripathi is a busy player. Once again, he has looked to get going early and he does so here with a six off a half-tracker from Yadav. In the next over, Gill whips Avesh Khan for probably the shot of the match. KKR in no mood to play softly here. They want to knock these runs down as quickly as possible it seems.
GONE! 1st wicket down for KKR
OUT! KKR 1 down as Lalit Yadav cleans up Venkatesh Iyer with a quicker one. KKR 28/1 in 4.3 overs.
Lalit Yadav in the attack
More spin from Delhi, as the first bowling change is all-rounder Lalit Yadav with his quick off-spin. He darts in a short ball first up and Iyer looked to go big, but no connection.
Ashwin bowls a tight first over
Six runs scored off the 2nd over of the innings, bowled by R Ashwin. Venkatesh Iyer tries to rattle him with his reverse-sweeps and cheeky attempts, but the experience of Ashwin keeps the young left-hander quiet.
IPL 2021, KKR vs DC Live Score: Gill smokes the 1st 6 of the match
Oh dear! How good was that. Gill went down the wicket to Axar Patel and absolutely pummelled it for a six. Incredible blow first up. Two overs gone, KKR are motoring along at 8 runs an over.
Cracked for 4, one more
What a talent this Venkatesh Iyer is. Nortje goes slightly short but Iyer is up for the challenge. He plays a thunderous pull shot as the ball races away for the second four of the over. Great start for KKR to this chase of 128.
Iyer drills Nortje for 4
Wow! Nortje bowled it at 148 clicks but Iyer dispatched it to the boundary with that cover drive as if it was not more than 120. What timings. Unbelievable. KKR up and away
KKR's chase set to begin
We are back with the second innings. KKR need 128 to win. It's a target one would back the Knight Riders to achieve but remember, small totals have been defended. Case in point, the Punjab Kings.
End of the innings, Delhi Capitals finish on 127/9
Three wickets in the last over means that Delhi Capitals failed to make it past 130. They finish on 127/9 and KKR would be mighty pleased with that effort. KKR were on top from the word go and they maintained the stranglehold on DC till the end. Fine show by Sunil Narine and especially from Venkatesh Iyer to pick up two wickets each.
Pant run out, huge blow to Delhi Capitals
Rishabh Pant is run out trying to go for the second run. A terrific throw from Karun Nair from the deep, straight into Dinesh Karthik's gloves, who completes the formality of taking out the stumps. There was never a run there and Pant is run out by some distance.
WICKET! Southee picks up his 1st wicket
OUT! Southee gets a wicket as Ashwin holes out to deep square leg. DC 120/7 in 19.1 overs.
FOUR more! Sloppy from KKR
That should have been stopped but the fielder, Ben Cutting makes a mess of it at long off. Puts in the dive but the ball goes through him and into the ropes. Two extra runs for KKR.
Southee to Pant: FOUR
Finally, the big shot comes off. Gives himself room and hammers the ball through the sweeper cover region. With two overs to go, Pant would look to get the Capitals to at least 130.
IPL 2021 Live Score: KKR lose their review
A huge caught behind appeal against Pant and it is turned down. Chakravarthy looked highly convinced and KKR made the T-sign. Unfortunately for them, there was no spike whatsoever on the Ultra Edge and the Knight Riders would have to lose their only review.
Chakravarthy keeps the guessing in his final over
The spinner finishes strong (0/24) and gives away just four runs in the over. Pant fancying his chances now. Jumps down the wicket but gets an edge, and later plays a reverse seep which heads to the fielder at deep point.
FOUR! Much needed boundary for Capitals
Delicate from Ashwin. Late cuts the ball and it beats the fielder at short third man. Simply glides the ball for a much-needed boundary for his team. Only five more over to go, and with Capitals having not yet brought up their 100, all eyes are on Rishabh Pant to get them to a solid total.
Delhi Capitals in the middle of a collapse
OUT! Chipped in the air and taken. Axar Patel falls for a 5-ball duck as Venkatesh Iyer grabs his 2nd wicket.
WICKET! DC in all sorts of trouble
OUT! Lalit Yadav is LBW to Narine as Capitals lose 5th wicket. Straight and looked stone dead. As plumb as it can get. Yadav doesn't even bother to take the review, and rightly so. Three back to back wickets for KKR and they have strengthened their grip on the match. All eyes on Pant now to steer them team forward.
WICKET! Delhi Capitals 4 down
OUT! And that's another one down as Shimron Hetmyer perishes cheaply to Venkatesh Iyer. Holes out to Southee at long off. Maiden IPL wicket for young Iyer. DC 88/4 in 14 overs.
Iyer to Pant: FOUR
Goes through the off side does Pant. Not exactly a half-volley but that's the kind of talent Pant has. Plays the ball almost on the up and heaves it over extra cover for a boundary. Meanwhile, Shimron Hetmyer is 4 off 4.
OUT! Ferguson strikes
Bowled him! Smith goes for a long hop and his stumps are castled. Ferguson with the wicket. A good innings comes to an end as he goes for 39 off 34 balls. DC 77/3 in 12.2 overs.
Smith is on the ground
Trying to play the scoop shot off a slower ball from Lockie Ferguson, Steve Smith edges the ball to his body. He goes down on the ground but is up before the count of 4 by Ian Bishop on air. Always the entertainer, is Smithy!
IPL 2021, KKR vs DC - LIVE!
Narine to Smith - FOUR! Steve Smith pulls a fantastic shot towards midwicket for another boundary. DC reach 70/2 in 10. 3 overs.
Chakravarthy to Smith - FOUR! FOUR!
FOUR! FOUR! Steve Smith goes after Varun Chakravarthy, tries to break the shackles and two back-to-back boundaries certainly open up the doors for DC.
50 up for DC
Rishabh Pant and Steve Smith have taken DC past the 50-run mark. The runs are coming in singles as of now and KKR have bound DC in shackles.
Narine to Iyer - OUT!
GONE! Sunil Narine has dismissed Shreyas Iyer with a beauty. Completely left him puzzled. Just a little bit of drift, hustles Iyer and breaches the defence. DC 40/2
DC vs KKR Live Cricket Score: Lockie strikes, Dhawan falls
FOUR! Welcome to Sharjah, Lockie! fullish delivery outside that angling inwards and Smith whipped the ball off his pads for four to deep mid-wicket
OUT! Short and wide from Lockie! It was meant to be punished. Dhawan crunched the ball hard on the backfoot but he ends up hitting it to Venkatesh Iyer.
DC are 35/1 after 5 overs. Dhawan is gone for 24.
Shreyas Iyer is the new man in!
Umpire's call saves Dhawan
FOUR! Full and way outside off. Dhawan skips down the track and runs his hand through the ball for a cover drive for four.
HOW'S THAT? NOT OUT! REVIEW. Dhawan is struck on the pads by Southee. KKR appeal and it was given not out. Morgan reviews. Initially, UltraEdge took a million years to load. AND UMPIRE'S CALL SAVES DHAWAN!
DC are 29/0 after 4 overs.
IPL 2021: Dhawan dealing in boundaries
FOUR! Full and straight from Warrier and it's easy picking for Dhawan as he flicks the ball off his pads for four through the deep mid-wicket boundary.
FOUR! Another one on the pads and Dhawan is too good a player to miss out on it. Picks up four with a boundary in front of square leg.
DC are 21/0 after 3 overs.
Southee introduced the attack
Tim Southee will share the new ball with Sandeep.
DHAWAN IS THE LEADING SCORER AGAIN! That boundary took him past Samson.
FOUR! Edged and four. No slips there so it was harmless for Dhawan.
7 off the over. DC are 12/0 after 2 overs.
DHAWAN UNDERWAY WITH A BOUNDARY
FOUR! That's a lovely shot from Dhawan to get off the mark. Steve Smith picked a single off the first ball and Warrier bowled 4 dots before straying on Dhawan's pads. The DC opener clipped the ball off his pads for four through the backward square leg boundary
DC ARE 5/0 AFTER 1 OVER.
KKR vs DC: Out come the players
Well, we are less than 2 minutes away from the start. The players follow the two on-field umpires.
Steve Smith and Shikhar Dhawan have walked out to open and Sandeep Warrier has the brand new cherry in hand
So viewers, are we happy with the changes?
DELHI CAPITALS: Well, it depends on how you see the one forced change for Delhi. If you are Steve Smith admirer, which is the case with many of us, you'd be happy to see him back in the playing XI.
If you are Shaw fan, guilty as charged, you'd hope the injury is not too serious.
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS: Southee coming in is great news. An experienced campaigner and the way Russell walked off last time around, we knew it was bad news.