Photographs: BCCI
A bowling performance, complemented by brilliant fielding, helped Delhi Daredevils thrash defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets in their Indian Premier League match at Raipur.
The win, Delhi's third, brought them level with Kolkata on points and kept alive their hopes of making it to the play-offs. In fact, both the teams have to win all their remaining six matches to harbour any hopes of progressing.
Having restricted to 136 for seven, Delhi raced home with 13 balls to spare.
Delhi, the home team for the game, got an important breakthrough off the second delivery of the match when rival skipper Gautam Gambhir (0) was unlucky to be run-out.
Gambhir was run out before scoring
Image: Irfan Pathan of Delhi Daredevils celebrates after running out Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir in the first overPhotographs: BCCI
Irfan did well on his follow through as Gambhir trying to rush for a quick single from the non-striker end fell short of his ground.
Gambhir was yet to face a ball.
He became the fifth player in the tournament to be dismissed for a diamond duck.
Bisla failed to fire
Image: Umesh Yadav of Delhi Daredevils celebrates after bowling Manvinder Bisla of Kolkata Knight RidersPhotographs: BCCI
With pitch offering some lateral movement, Umesh Yadav bowled a fantastic first over where he swung the ball away from the batsman at a brisk pace.
One such delivery saw Manvinder Bisla (4) trying to make room for a shot over extra cover only to see his off-stump knocked back.
Yadav (2-36) was a tad expensive although he got couple of wickets.
Yusuf was caught by brother Irfan
Image: Yusuf Pathan of Kolkata Knight Riders looks up after flicking a delivery only to end up being caught by Irfan Pathan of Delhi DaredevilsPhotographs: BCCI
Yusuf Pathan (20) played and missed a number of deliveries before hitting Morkel over long-on for a six but was out of the very next delivery when the South African speedster pitched it further up.
He again tried to hoick it but only managed the top edge and Irfan, who was positioned at '45', took a well-judged catch running backwards.
Kallis was caught by Rohrer
Image: Umesh Yadav of Delhi Daredevils and David Warner of Delhi Daredevils congratulate Ben Rohrer of Delhi Daredevils for taking the catch to get Jacques Kallis of Kolkata Knight Riders wicket off Irfan PathanPhotographs: BCCI
From 37 for three, it soon became 50 for five as Eoin Morgan (10) and Jacques Kallis (12) were also back in the dug-out. While Umesh covered some ground to take a good catch at deep square leg off Shahbaz Nadeem's bowling, Rohrer's effort should be ranked among the top five catches in the league.
Irfan bowled one wide outside the off-stump as Kallis tried to slice it over point. The Aussie timed his jump to perfection as he plucked off one of the most amazing catches with his left hand.
KKR's total got some sort of respectability due to Delhi's domestic veterans Rajat Bhatia (26 not out) and Sumit Narwal (23, 15 balls, 4x4).
The duo added 30 runs in only three overs as KKR managed to cross 130-run mark despite being five down for 50 even before the halfway mark.
Brett Lee (16 not out) also used the long handle to good effect as Ashish Nehra (1-37) gave away 16 runs in the final over of the innings.
Warner top-scored with 66 not out
Image: David Warner of Delhi Daredevils drives a delivery through to the boundaryPhotographs: BCCI
Delhi lost Virender Sehwag (17) and Mahela Jayawardene (5) with just 23 runs on the board, but then David Warner took charge.
The Australian remained unbeaten on 66, his 42-ball knock was inclusive of six boundaries and three sixes.
It was Warner's fourth fifty in this tournament and he stayed on to finish the job for his team.
Unmukt Chand made a patient 37
Image: Unmukt Chand of Delhi DaredevilsPhotographs: BCCI
Warner was ably supported by Unmukt Chand.
Tentative at the start, the youngster eventually made a 39-ball 37, his knock comprising of four boundaries.
Besides, he helped Warner put 95 runs for the third wicket, a partnership that laid the foundation for the Delhi win.
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