Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan guide Kolkata Knight Riders to 4-wicket win in Delhi

Manish Pandey hit a crucial six in the final over to guide former champions Kolkata Knight Riders to a four-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils in their IPL 2017 clash at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi

Manish Pandey struck his second, unbeaten half-century of Indian Premier League (IPL) 10 to power Kolkata Knight Riders to a thrilling four-wicket victory with a ball to spare against Delhi Daredevils at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Monday. (DD vs KKR HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD)

Manish Pandey of Kolkata Knight Riders celebrates the team’s win against Delhi Daredevils during their 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi. (BCCI)

Kolkata Knight Riders, the table toppers, were left needing eight runs off the final three deliveries and Manish Pandey struck a six and two off leg-spinner Amit Mishra to seal the team’s fourth victory in five matches. KKR finished on 169 for six chasing Delhi Daredevils’ 168/7.

Australian pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile grabbed 3 for 23, but KKR were struggling in their run chase. However, a 110-run fourth-wicket stand between Manish Pandey (69no – 47 balls) and Yousuf Pathan (59 – 36 balls) steadily took the game away from Delhi Daredevils.

Pandey stays calm

Still, Pandey held his nerves in the end and came up with a flat six over long on off Amit Mishra that sealed the game for KKR.

Rishabh Pant’s 16-ball 38 at the fag end had helped Delhi Daredevils post a challenging total. But Coulter-Nile’s blows broke three important partnesrships to restrict the hosts.

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Yousuf Pathan was checked with a quick bouncer by Pat Cummins, but managed to get a top edge which went for a boundary. There was no looking back for Pathan after that.

The all-rounder picked the right deliveries and used his long handle to dispatch lofted shots to the boundary. It never looked like he was playing rashly as he built the innings with a set partner.

Smart shots

Pandey was the more stylish of the two. He played the ball really late and was convincing while playing the big shots. Later in the innings, he guided Chris Morris through the thirdman region for fours when the fielder was in the circle.

Delhi Daredevils were done in to an extent by Coulter-Nile, who was in their camp last season. Coulter-Nile conceded 10 runs in his first over, but he was measured in his approach. He used the short ball cleverly and bowled much fuller and in the block hole.

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Even when Rishabh Pant slammed him for a six over long leg in the 18th over, the Aussie pacer bowled fuller and got the reward, having Pant caught at point.

Coulter-Nile had played four games for Delhi last season and had picked three wickets. Though he didn’t play at the Kotla, he was effective against Sunrisers Hyderabad and picked a couple of wickets.