Kolkata, Apr 16 (UNI) Nitish Rana's 35-ball-59-run and his 22-ball-61-run 5th wicket partnership
with Andre Russell ( 41-run-12-ball) powered hosts Kolkata Knight Riders to score 200/ for loss
of 9 wickets against Delhi Daredevils at Eden Gardens here tonight.
DD under captain Gautam Gambhir will have make 201 in 120 balls.
Sent to bat first Chris Lynn set the score roilling with his 29-ball 31-run with 4 boundaries and
a six earned KKR to socre 200 runs in their 4th match after Chennai where they had made 202
but could not defend against Chennai Super Kings in the second play.
Rahul Tewatia took 3/18, followed by Trent Boult 2/29 and Chris Morris 2/41.
Delhi Daredevils began well getting maiden of Trent Boult first over as opener Chris Lynn
waved his willow all arund but could not make a move from his crease. The West Indian bowler, Narain, made 50 in 17-ball in the opening play against RCB here, on the other side
was out for 1 in Trent Boult second over giving a skying catch to Glenn Maxwell behind the
wicket-keeper stance. Dinesh Karthik's gamble for Sunil Narain this time did not click.
Joining hard hitter Robin Uthappa chanved the scenario as both chris Lynn and Robin began
to pick up runs in tandem reducing the deficit in T-20 game.
Both began to pick ups runs with 4s and 6s and made 55 runs second wicket partnership in
30-ball before Robin Uthapaa (35 from 19 balls) was caught and bowled by spinner Shabhaz Nadeem. Before this Uthappa was lucky as his skying shot fell in no-man's land.
Right handed Uthappa hit 2 boundaries and three sixes in 19-ball. KKR's 3rd wicket fell in
89 when Chris Lynn's ( 31-run-29-ball) catch was taken by Jason Roy from Momammed
Shami's first over. The catch was very eye catching holding the ball in the air on his chest
drive fielding.
KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik survived on 7 for a DRS after the field umpire given him LBW
off Md Shami's second over.
Twenty-six-year-old right handed batsman Dinesh Karthik has become the 12th batsman to
score 3000 in IPL. Karthik was out on 19 when Trent Boult took catch of him from Chris Morris delivery
But 24-year-old Delhi boy Nitish Rana kept up hope for the host on the other hand with his
solid batting. He along with another hard hitter Andre Russell took 22 runs in Md Shami's 3rd
over. Russell made 21 in just five balls with three sixes. Shami finished with 1/53 in four overs,
costly spell in limited over cricket. Russell hit three sixes in the following over of Shami. His last
two overs cost 42 runs.
Russell was out on 41 from 12-ball when he was bowled by Trent Boult on a yorker .
Left handed batsman Nitish Rana made his first 50 runs from 30 balls.
Earlier Delhi Daredevils captain Gautam Gambhir won the toss and sent Kolkata Knight
Riders to batting at VIVO IPL play at Eden Gardens here today.
KKR inducted Tom Curran in place of bowler Mitchell Johnson.
After wining toss Gautam Gambhir said " We are gonna bowl first. Looks like a good track.
The wicket has changed, if anything it will be good to bat. Obviously an emotional one. Will try
to control it. They have got the most loyal fans. Wouldn't have achieved whatever we could
without their support. We know how destructive he (Roy) can be. This wicket will suit him as well.
This is one of th best wickets in the country after Wankhede. We have one change. Chris Morris comes in place of Dan Christian."
UNI BM-PC