Kolkata Knight Riders scored 272/7 in 20 overs, where as Delhi Capitals scored 166 all out in 17.2 overs.
So, finally Kolkata Knight Riders beat Delhi Capitals by 106 runs.
Rapid half-centuries from Rishabh Pant and Tristan Stubbs merely served as a side note as Kolkata Knight Riders dismantled Delhi Capitals by 106 runs in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.
Fueled by explosive innings from Sunil Narine (85 off 39 balls) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (54 off 27 balls), complemented by a late onslaught from Andre Russell (41 off 19 balls) and Rinku Singh (26 off 8 balls), KKR amassed a formidable total of 272/7 – the second-highest score in IPL history.
Delhi Capitals struggled early in their chase, managing only 166 runs.
Sunil Narine’s fireworks continued?
Absolutely.
The aggressive batsman, who had struggled against short deliveries in recent seasons, showcased a rejuvenated form this season.
Building on his previous performance, Narine dominated the DC bowlers from the outset.
Despite a quiet start, he unleashed his fury on Ishant Sharma in the fourth over.
Narine smashed a length delivery over long-off for a six and followed it up with a pull shot over deep square leg for another boundary.
The onslaught continued as he punished Ishant, accumulating 26 runs in a single over.
Narine maintained his assault on Rashik Salam in the powerplay’s final over, hitting three boundaries and a six to propel KKR to 88/1 before the field restrictions were lifted.
In just 21 balls, he reached his half-century, with the last 43 runs coming off just 12 deliveries.
No bowler was spared in Narine’s onslaught as he attacked every delivery, including Axar Patel, whom he plundered for 19 runs.
Though not always hitting the middle of the bat, Narine’s power and fortune ensured the ball found safe areas.
His innings ended in the 13th over when he edged a delivery from Mitchell Marsh to the wicketkeeper.
However, by then, KKR’s score had surged to 164.
What was happening at the other end?
Narine’s opening partner, Phil Salt, contributed with aggressive batting in the initial overs but fell soon after.
However, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, in his debut IPL innings, made a stunning impression.
He began with a boundary off Anrich Nortje and continued with innovative shots, including the reverse scoop and reverse sweep.
Raghuvanshi ended the ninth over with a six and a four off Sumit Kumar and then struck two sixes off Salam in the 11th over.
His partnership of 104 runs in 48 balls with Narine was crucial, although he fell soon after, attempting to ramp Nortje to Ishant at fine third man.
The onslaught in the death overs?
Delhi Capitals continued to suffer as Andre Russell and Rinku Singh maintained KKR’s momentum.
The duo added 67 runs in just 27 balls, with six sixes and five boundaries.
The bowlers struggled to contain them, resulting in several wides.
Despite a fine over from Ishant, which saw the dismissal of Russell and Ramandeep Singh, KKR finished strongly.
How did DC respond?
Mitchell Starc and Vaibhav Arora struck early blows in the powerplay, leaving DC struggling at 33/4.
Rishabh Pant and Tristan Stubbs counterattacked, with Pant particularly aggressive, hitting a couple of sixes off Russell.
Stubbs took on Varun Chakravarthy, scoring two sixes before being dropped by Shreyas at deep mid-wicket.
Pant’s brutal assault on Venkatesh Iyer yielded 28 runs in the 12th over.
However, Chakravarthy dismissed Pant and Axar Patel in successive deliveries, triggering a collapse.
Stubbs reached his half-century but fell soon after to Chakravarthy.
Despite a 93-run partnership between Pant and Stubbs, DC’s innings folded for 166 in 17.2 overs.
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