IPL 2017: Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa Stars In Kolkata Knight Riders Seven-Wicket Win Over Delhi Daredevils

Apr 28, 2017 at 7:38 PM

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IPL 2017: Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa Stars In Kolkata Knight Riders Seven-Wicket Win Over Delhi Daredevils

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir alongside wicket-keeper batsman Robin Uthappa stuck brilliant half centuries to thrash Delhi Daredevils by seven wickets in their match number nine of Indian Premier League (IPL) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday evening.

Gambhir remained unbeaten on 71 off 52 balls whereas, Sheldon Jackson chipped in with 12 off five deliveries as the Men in Purple chased down the target in 16.2 overs.

Uthappa, who has played a significant role in the middle for Knight Riders smashed Daredevils bowlers all-round the park to score 59 off 33 balls.

The 31-year-old Uthappa, who didn’t seem to set a foot wrong, smashed five boundaries and three sixes before a direct hit from Karun Nair found him short of the ground.

Both Gambhir and Uthappa registered 109 runs on the scoreboard for the second wicket to make things easier for the team which is in formidable position after winning seven games out of nine to amass 14 points as they have better net run-rate of +1.223.

The right-handed batsman Manish Pandey (5 off 4 balls) had no clue whatsoever when he was cleaned up on a beauty by Kagiso Rabada in 15th over to see hosts 139 for three before strategic timeout came into play.

Gautam Gambhir, who crossed past 4,000-run landmark in his 141st match of IPL, played some exquisite strokes to take down the required run-rate.

The left-handed batsman Gambhir brought up his fifty with a square cut as the ball whizzed past the padded-up boundary line.

While chasing the target of 161, Kolkata Knight Riders again went with their punt Sunil Narine, who didn’t yield much this time for hosts before two experienced campaigners stole the show.

Sunil Narine (4 off 4 balls) was sent back by fast bowler Kagiso Rabada after the latter’s feet went nowhere to see the ball hitting the off-stump as Kolkata Knight Riders lost their first wicket in second over at the score of nine.

However, in third over, Daredevils skipper went off the ground while holding his right leg in his follow through before returning to the field.

In sixth over, wicket-keeper batsman Robin Uthappa tried to pull the short delivery from Kagiso Rabada which took the top edge only to see the ball landing between Amit Mishra and Sanju Samson after three fielders hurried to claim the catch.

Earlier, in the match number 32 at Kolkata’s iconic stadium Eden Gardens; hosts’ skipper Gautam Gambhir won the toss and elected to bowl first against Delhi Daredevils.

Batting first Delhi Daredevils posted 160 for six on board in 20 overs after losing the plot with the bat.

However, Gambhir’s decision paid the dividend as Daredevils kept losing wickets at regular intervals following a blazing start at the top.

Despite top-order doing well, Knight Riders bowlers pegged back in last seven overs, in a bid to halt the flow of runs for Daredevils.

Ankit Bawne remained unbeaten after scoring run-a-ball 12 alongside Pat Cummins, who didn’t face any ball.

Interestingly, the first four dismissals came as LBW decisions.

For Knight Riders, fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile picked three wickets while choking the visitors batting line-up who scored just 29 in last 30 balls, whereas Sunil Narine and Umesh Yadav picked wicket apiece.

Earlier, sent into bat first, Daredevils were off to a blistering start, the visitors’ batsman provided an early cushion for the middle order with the new opening combination, in the form of Karun Nair and Sanju Samson as both posted 48 for the first wicket in 4.5 overs.

When Karun seemed to anchor the innings, he was dismissed by Sunil Narine.

In an attempt to go for a slog sweep, the ball thudded onto his bat before umpire’s dreaded finger went up.
However, the replays further suggested ball was hitting the stumps to see Nair trudging off after scoring 15 off 17 balls.

Sanju Samson top scored with 60 off 34 balls which was laced with four boundaries and three sixes.

Samson was dismissed by Umesh Yadav when the visitors were 123 for two in 14 overs.

Shreyas Iyer, who looked confident, while striking the ball well, scored 34-ball 47 with the help of four boundaries and a solitary six before he was trapped in front of the stumps by Nathan Coulter-Nile when Daredevils were 140 in 15.5 overs.

Both the batsman knitted 75 runs for the second wicket before Knight Riders bowlers made a strong comeback while containing Daredevils batsmen as they claimed crucial wickets at regular intervals.

Rishabh Pant, who was unlucky as the replays suggested the ball was missing the off stump.

The wicket-keeper batsman Pant was adjudged LBW on the bowling of Coulter-Nile after scoring six off four balls.

In 18th over, Corey Anderson (2 off 5 balls) was sent back to the pavilion when tried to sneak the single after gently pushing the ball on his off-side before Gambhir rushed onto the ball to see wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa shattering the stumps as Anderson failed to make the ground in time.

On the penultimate delivery of the first innings, Coulter dismissed Chris Morris (11 off 10 balls) after Chris Woakes held onto a splendid catch in deep while diving forward.

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