Dire Delhi succumb to Kolkata pressure

The Kolkata Knight Riders got their IPL season off to a flying start as they easily defeated the Delhi Daredevils by nine wickets on Sunday, chasing down the 99 required inside 15 overs.
The Daredevils were unable to turn their past fortunes around, despite an influx of new players, as the experience of Gautam Gambhir's settled side proved too much at Eden Gardens.
Delhi's poor record in the IPL continued, as they were bundled out for less than 100 for the seventh time in their history, which is not a record a team wants to claim. The other seven teams have been out for double figures a combined 16 times.
They started off well though, with South Africa's Quinton de Kock and local Mayank Agarwal doing well in the first two overs, before the latter was out for nine, caught off Andre Russell's bowling.
De Kock followed soon afterwards for 17, also to 'Dre Russ', and his score ended up being the highest of the innings. The next best was 15 from Sanju Samson, while Chris Morris, who fetched a huge sum at auction, was out for 11.
Veteran Brad Hogg was the pick of the Kolkata bowlers, bagging three wickets as he used his vast experience in India to bamboozle the rookie Delhi line-up. Russell also claimed three scalps, while Piyush Chawla took two.
Kolkata's chase was relatively simple from the start, as India veterans Robin Uthappa and Gambhir quickly advanced the score into the 40s inside five overs, with little risk to their wickets.
The first and only wicket fell with the score on 69, somewhat against the run of play, as Uthappa tried one pull too many and hit the Amit Mishra delivery right to Morris on the boundary, out for 35.
This left skipper Gambhir and Manish Pandey to wrap the game up with plenty of time to spare. Gambhir was on 38 not out when the runs ran out, while Pandey had little to do and was on 15.
Latest
-
News
Dan Lawrence adamant he will stick to ‘unique’ batting technique in Test arena
The 23-year-old should make his Test debut when England start their two-match series against Sri Lanka.
-
News
Steve Smith criticised for appearing to scuff Rishabh Pant’s guard in third Test
Former Australia captain Steve Smith was branded “childish” after an incident during the final day of their drawn third Test against India
-
News
Tim Paine admits he let the Australian bowlers down
Australia captain Tim Paine believes he was at least partially to blame for his side failing to bowl India.
-
News
Testing times on tour in Sri Lanka – the life of an international cricketer
Gloucestershire’s James Bracey is on his first overseas tour with England. Here he writes about his experiences so far in Sri Lanka.
-
News
India salvage unlikely draw in third Test against Australia
India salvaged an unlikely draw as the third Test against Australia reached a thrilling finale.
-
News
Chris Silverwood backs ‘fighter’ Dan Lawrence to make step up to Test cricket
The Essex batsmen is in line for an England Test debut against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
-
News
Ravichandran Ashwin condemns alleged racial abuse of Mohammed Siraj by SCG fans
Play was halted on day four of the third Test between Australia and India while six spectators were escorted out of Sydney Cricket Ground by police.
-
News
Investigation launched after Indian players allegedly abused by crowd in Sydney
Play was held up while police and security guards escorted six people from Sydney Cricket Ground.
-
News
Jos Buttler determined to keep standards high with gloves and bat in Sri Lanka
The 30-year-old has Ben Foakes and Jonny Bairstow for competition in the England side.
-
News
England’s Dom Bess thinks pitch for Friday’s warm-up won’t be repeated in series
England finally took to the pitch in Hambantota for a low-key workout between Team Root and Team Buttler.