KKR players after winning the match against DC(Image Courtesy:IPL Twitter)
Kolkata Knight Riders beat Delhi Capitals by 59 runs, in the 42nd match of IPL at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. With this win, KKR has put themselves ahead in the race for a playoff spot. The side now has 12 points from 11 matches and is placed in the fourth position in the eight-team competition.
Leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy's five-wicket haul and superb half-centuries from Nitish Rana and off-spinner Sunil Narine combined to guide Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to this crucial win over Delhi Capitals (DC) that kept the team in contention for the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs.
Despite the defeat, DC remain static at the second spot, behind Mumbai Indians. Both DC and MI, as well as Royal Challengers Bangalore have 14 points each.
Four top teams qualify for the playoffs. Overall, the race for the fourth qualifying spot, if not for other potions above it, is still wide open, with even the wooden spooners Chennai Super Kings still in the fray, though mathematically and not on form.
Rana scored 81 off 53 balls while Narine scored 64 off 32 balls to push KKR's score to 194/6 wickets in 20 overs. In reply, DC ended up at 135/9 in 20 overs.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders: 194 for 6 in 20 overs (Nitish Rana 81, Sunil Narine 64; Anrich Nortje 2/27).
Delhi Capitals: 135 for 9 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 47; Varun Chakravarthy 5/20, Pat Cummins 3/17).