Irfan Pathan steers Daredevils to an 8-wkt win over KKR

Delhi Daredevils 100 for 2 (Irfan 42*, Finch 30) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 97 for 9 (Shukla 26, M Morkel 3-18) by eight wickets.
Irfan Pathan blows take Delhi to win

Irfan Pathan’s 42* carries Daredevils to victory:

Irfan Pathan bowled only one over in the game but proved decisive with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 42 from 20 deliveries to ensure Delhi Daredevils did not make a mess of their chase of 98 after having been 49 for 0. It would have been embarrassing for Daredevils to lose after that opening partnership, and especially after they had reduced Kolkata Knight Riders to 55 for 6 at one stage.

 Aaron Finch and Virender Sehwag had gone serenely after the target in the rain-affected game shortened to 12 overs per side. But the asking-rate suddenly rose above ten runs an over after their dismissals in successive overs, and it was left to Irfan to bail Daredevils out.

Irfan Pathan, walking in at no.3 for Delhi Daredevils steered his side to an easy 8-wicket win with 5 balls to spare in a rain-curtailed game against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. Needing just 98 to win from 12 overs, Irfan Pathan played a crucial unbeaten knock of 42 from 20 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes to delivery victory for the Delhi Daredevils.

The run chase for Daredevils was set up by openers Aaron Finch (30 from 27 balls with 5 fours) and Skipper Virender Sehwag (20 from 13 balls with a four and a six). When both the openers fell in the space of two overs, the pressure was slightly back on the visitors but Irfan Pathan kept his cool to single handedly take his side to victory after the dismissals of Sehwag and Finch. Irfan with this got the Man of the Match award ahead of Morne Morkel who had earlier destructed the KKR top order.

 KKR put up a miserable batting show:

 Kolkata Knight Riders have been restricted to 97 for 9 in 12 overs by the Delhi Daredevils on a spicy track at the Eden Gardens. There seems to be enough life for both the fast bowlers and the spinners on the pitch while it has been tough going for the KKR batsmen.

 Morne Morkel demolished the top order of KKR taking two wickets in two balls by yorking Kallis and Manoj Tiwary. Umesh Yadav followed it up with a nasty short ball which forced Yusuf Pathan to glove him behind to the Keeper. KKR found themselves at 54 for 5 within no time!

 A few big hits out of nowhere from Debabrata Das (18 from 9 balls with 2 sixes) and LR Shukla (26 from 17 balls with a four and 2 sixes) did put up some runs on the board for the hosts. Morne Morkel with 3 for 18 in 3 overs and Umesh Yadav with 2 for 9 in 2 overs were very hostile to handle.

Update at 10:00 PM IST: Delhi Daredevils have won the toss and invited hosts Kolkata Knight Riders to bat first in a reduced contest of 12 overs. The match has been scheduled to start at 10:30 PM IST.

Update at 9:45 PM IST: Finally we could see some action at the Eden Gardens with the rain stopping. The ground was completely under covers, so the damage done by the rain isn’t much. However, there is enough work to be done with the water on the covers to be removed and a couple of damp patches around the outfield.

 The players of both the sides are on the ground playing football and the crowd are still out there in huge numbers! The Umpires have just informed the TV Broadcasters that we could have a 10-over contest if if gets underway at around 10:45 PM.

 The toss is yet to take place and for now, everyone in the ground is hoping for the rain to subside to let some action happen at the Eden Gardens.