Press Trust of India
Kolkata, May 7: Piyush Chawla emerged as an unlikely hero for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) doling out an all-round performance as the home team beat Delhi Daredevils (DD) by 13 runs at the Eden Gardens here Thursday.
Chasing a target of 172, DD began well with Manoj Tiwary (25, 28, 3×4, 1×6) and Shreyas Iyer (40, 35b, 3×4, 2×6) but Chawla (4/32) broke the opening partnership getting Tiwary out. Iyer also followed him after chopping a delivery of Brad Hogg (1/27) onto the stumps.
Soon there was a procession as the leg-spinner accounted for the wickets of JP Duminy, Kedar Jadav and Yuvraj Singh. Angello Mathews (22) and Saurabh Tiwary (24 n o) tried their best but in the end Andre Russell and Umesh Yadav closed down the match for the home team restricting the visitors at 158 for six . Albie Morkel (5 n o) came in at no. 8, a decision which affected DD’s chances of a win.
Earlier KKR rode on Yusuf Pathan’s (42, 24b, 3×4, 3×6) blistering knock to post a competitive 171 for seven. Imran Tahir (2/46) dismissed Pathan in the penultimate over of the innings but Johan Botha (17, 5b, 4×4) played a cameo and dispatched Zaheer Khan for four consecutive fours in the last over to take the total past the 170-run mark. .
KKR changed their batting order sending Piyush Chawla (22, 19b, 1×4, 1×6) at no. 4. He looked unconvincing but his innings kept the run-rate ticking. Manish Pandey (22, 19b, 1×4, 1×6) and Robin Uthappa (32, 31, 4×4, 1×6) also got a start but couldn’t make it count.
Brief scores
KKR 171 for seven (Yusuf Pathan 42) beat DD 158 for six (Shreyas Iyer 40; Piyush Chawla 4/32) by 13 runs.
