Russell to Kuldeep Yadav, 1 run, KKR win. A low full-toss around leg-stump, Kuldeep Yadav flicks to deep mid-wicket and it's just one. KKR win by 14
Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders will lock horns in their first and only meeting of the season at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi at a crucial juncture in the league with every lost point proving to be fatal in the run to the Playoffs
With teams around them slowly picking up steam in the race, both DC and KKR cannot avoid any slip-ups. The equations are pretty much tougher for Ajinkya Rahane’s Kolkata, who are on seventh place with seven points.
The slower turners, uncharacteristic of the Kotla tracks, have hampered Delhi a little bit in their home games. Axar Patel’s men have found it hard to manoeuvre the middle-overs despite posing a strong assortment of hitters and it will be interesting to see how they counter the spin attack of KKR, comprising Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine.
Varun Chakaravarthy to Vipraj Nigam, SIX, fantastic shot this.
Harshit Rana to Ashutosh Sharma, SIX, just over long-off. A slower-ball off-cutter outside off, Ashutosh Sharma loses his bottom-hand as he gets forward to loft, but such is the power of the man, Powell felt he was in the game, but it sailed over him
Harshit Rana to Vipraj Nigam, FOUR, to fine leg
Narine to du Plessis, out Caught by Rinku Singh!! Narine is turning it around. This is tossed up outside the leg-stump as du Plessis makes room there, heaved but not great connection, and Rinku at deep mid-wicket bends low to take it. Kisses the ball in celebration as Gurbaz runs to Narine to celebrate. du Plessis lost momentum for the last 10 minutes or so and now goes. du Plessis c Rinku Singh b Narine 62(45) [4s-7 6s-2]
Narine to Stubbs, out Bowled!! Narine knocks over Stubbs. Regulation off-break on middle and leg, Stubbs looks to flick across the line, misses, just a flick of the back leg and then on to the stumps. Two wickets in the over and now KKR are on top.
Narine to Axar, out Caught by Harshit Rana!! The change of angle works.
Russell to Axar, FOUR, to long-off
Harshit Rana to Axar, FOUR, Harshit Rana round the wicket. It's a slower-ball off-cutter and Axar makes room to loft, the thick outside-edge flies away wide of short third man, again Axar is in pain, he goes down on his haunches, will still continue though
Harshit Rana to Axar, FOUR, to third man
Vaibhav Arora to Karun Nair, out Lbw!! That's an excellent review by Vaibhav. There was no one else appealing with him. Credit to Rahane as well for trusting his bowler and challenging the onfield call. Karun moves around in the crease before staying back and missing a very full delivery, he struck in fron of off-stump and ball-tracking showed it to be smashing into middle-stump. It looked like it came off the bat to the naked eye and hence the umpire was also not interested, but it was clearly off the front boot.
Harshit Rana to du Plessis, FOUR, fulish delivery on off, Faf brings his bottom hand into play and whips it wide of mid-on. Rana rolled his fingers over the ball but landed it right in the slot
Harshit Rana to du Plessis, FOUR, much needed release for Faf. He was tied down by Anukul in the last over. Rana comes on and offers width outside off, Faf reaches and cracks it square past a diving cover-point
Mitchell Starc to Varun Chakaravarthy, 1 run, to mid-off
Mitchell Starc to Russell, SIX, straight down the ground
Chameera to Russell, FOUR, to sweeper cover
Kuldeep Yadav to Rinku Singh, FOUR, to long-on
Axar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 1 run, drifting in with the arm, Angkrish hangs back and nudges it through mid-wicket
Kuldeep Yadav to Rinku Singh, FOUR, picks the length early, rocks back in the crease and pulls this away to the deep square leg boundary. Almost went the distance as this landed just in front of the cushions
Axar to Venkatesh Iyer, out Caught by Karun Nair!! Spinners weaving their magic. Full and straight outside off, Venkatesh Iyer swings across the line and gets a top edge. Miscues it towards cover where Karun Nair completes a rather safe catch. The spinners are choking KKR batters since the powerplay.
Axar to Rahane, out Lbw!! Rahane starts walking even before the umpire gave the decision. He was sure that this was plumb. Delhi Capitals fighting back with these wickets. This was a slider on leg, keeps straight and beats the batsman. Impact in line and it might have crashed into the leg-stump. He has struggled against spinners and once away he has been trapped by a spinner.
Vipraj Nigam to Narine, out Lbw!! End of Narine's cameo. Vipraj Nigam has struck in his first over. This was on the fuller side, Narine goes for a slog, gets beaten as the ball keeps straight and is rapped on the pads. Looked plumb and the umpire raises his finger. With that wicket, both the KKR openers are back to the dugout. KKR's middle-order hasn't clicked this season. Let's see if they make a difference today. Narine lbw b Vipraj Nigam 27(16) [4s-2 6s-2]
- Gurbaz starts and ends the first over with a four- Narine v Chameera - 6, wd, 2, 4, wd, 6, 1- Starc is smashed for 14 runs but gets rid of Gurbaz- Mukesh starts with a tight over, just 6 runs- Another expensive over from Starc, 14 runs- Highest powerplay score vs Delhi this season
Mukesh Kumar to Rahane, FOUR, back-to-back boundaries. Similar to the previous shot. Short and wide outside off, Rahane plays another exquisite square cut and finds the fence. Sublime timing
Mitchell Starc to Rahane, SIX, short and punished! Picks the length early and pulls this over deep square leg for a well connected maximum
Mitchell Starc to Gurbaz, out Caught by Abishek Porel!! Edged and taken! Mitchell Starc breaks the partnership. A yorker length delivery outside off, Gurbaz tries to squeeze it out, but ends up getting an outside edge. Wasn't a bump ball as it flew towards the keeper's right side and Porel completes it with a dive. Good low catch as he has enough gloves underneath and that brings an end to Gurbaz's cameo.
Mitchell Starc to Gurbaz, SIX, another one that goes the distance! Short and quick at the batsman, Gurbaz goes for a pull as the ball sails over fine leg for half-a-dozen. Runs coming thick and fast for KKR, both the openers dealing in boundaries
Chameera to Narine, SIX, slower delivery by Chameera, 118 clicks, Narine swings early and slogs this over deep mid-wicket for half-a-dozen. One hand came off, but he made enough contact
Mitchell Starc to Gurbaz, FOUR, full and wide outside off, Gurbaz leans forward and drills it through cover-point for a boundary to end the first over. A decent start for the Knight Riders
Mitchell Starc to Gurbaz, FOUR, Gurbaz opens his account with a boundary! Pitched up by the bowler around off, Gurbaz drills it through mid-off and gets going