Knight Riders lay down a marker

News

Cricket365
May 7, 2012

Kolkata have moved to the top of the Indian Premier League table after beating Delhi by five-wickets at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

Gautam Gambhir's Knight Riders started the match one point and a place behind the table-topping Daredevils, but they outplayed the hosts in just about every department to deservedly move to the summit.

Set a target of 154, Gambhir and Brendon McCullum kept the run rate at just under 10 for the first seven overs to the lay the foundations for an excellent chase.

Delhi finally made a breakthrough with the score on 68 when India fast bowler Varun Aaron bowled Gambhir for 36.

McCullum and Jacques Kallis, though, kept the Knight Riders on track with a 60-run second-wicket partnership with the New Zealand wicketkeeper notching up his half-century in 40 balls.

The hosts were given a sniff when Umesh Yadav removed the two set batsmen off consecutive balls with the score on 128. However, it was nothing more than a fright for Kolkata as they easily crossed the finish line.

Delhi will be kicking themselves for not posting a bigger target after Virender Sehwag and David Warner – who replaced Kevin Pietersen in the team following the 31-year-old's return to England – gave them a positive start en route to 153 for eight.

The introduction of Jacques Kallis swung the momentum in Kolkata's favour as he removed the openers in the space of two overs. First he trapped Sehwag lbw for 23 and then Warner (21) edged one behind.

Mahela Jayawardene made 30 from 27 balls before he was run-out by Gautam Gambhir while Irfan Pathan hit four fours and one six in his knock of 36 from 22 balls.

Delhi, though, lost their way in the latter stages of the innings with spinner Sunil Narine (two for 23) particularly difficult to score off.