For the second game in a row, Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir stitched together a century stand to steer Kolkata Knight Riders to a thumping 7-wickets victory over Delhi Daredevils at the Eden Gardens.
Chasing 160, the home team did not enjoy a good start with Kagiso Rabada sending Sunil Narine’s off-stump on a cartwheel in the very second over with the scoreboard reading 9. 4 overs later, the visitors had got a golden chance to pile more pressure on their fancied opponents when Uthappa top-edged a Rabada delivery only to see Amit Mishra and Sanju Samson making a meal of the easy catch. Uthappa, who was batting on 9 off 9 balls at that time, soon hit the top gear and brought up his fifty in only 24 balls.
On the other hand, Gambhir was playing his usual game, rotating the strike and hitting the occasional boundaries. With runs coming thick and fast after the powerplay, the Knight Riders raced to 101 for 1 in ten overs. The partnership was finally broken when a direct throw from Karun Nair caught Uthappa short of his crease. But by then, the right-handed batsman had already set his team on the path to a comfortable victory with a 33-ball 59 run knock.
Soon, Gambhir completed his fourth fifty of this tournament and remained unbeaten on 71 as Kolkata chased down the total inside 17 overs.
Earlier, the capital-based outfit had enjoyed a blazing start with Sanju Samson and Karun Nair adding 48 runs in only 29 balls. Sunil Narine drew the first blood when he had Nair trapped lbw. However, the Kolkata bowlers managed to pull back things after Nair’s dismissal and did not concede a boundary for seven overs after the end of the fourth over. Samson finally sent one over the rope in the 12th over when he hit Kuldeep Yadav for a six to complete his fifty. A flurry of boundaries in the next few overs swung the momentum in the Daredevils favour but Gautam Gambhir’s men once again tightened the screw, conceding only 29 runs in the last overs to restrict the opposition to 160 for 6.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:
I asked @robbieuthappa for @cricbuzz how life would be if India didn't happen again. "It will happen," he said and he's making a strong case
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/virender_swag/status/857943058389839872
https://twitter.com/SmokingSkills_/status/857947728063508480
Comedy evenings with Delhi Daredevils. #IPL
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 28, 2017
Robin Uthappa has hit 16 sixes in this IPL. He had hit only 15 sixes in the last 2 editions combined. #KKRvDD
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 28, 2017
Run out was the only way Delhi could have got Uthupa. But by now he's got them battered and virtually beaten
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 28, 2017
When Corey Anderson bowls, it must feel like ice cream and chocolate coming your way.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) April 28, 2017
What has Robin Uthupa been eating lately?!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 28, 2017
Robbie entering invincibility mode after the customary drop catch. #IPL
— cricBC (@cricBC) April 28, 2017
Delhi are trying hard to ensure Rahul Dravid does more than just throw his cap down. School boy cricket galore. #IPL
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 28, 2017
If DD had a team in formula 1 racing, they would be enquiring about speed limits before hitting the tracks. #IPL
— cricBC (@cricBC) April 28, 2017