Delhi returned to winning ways after beating Kolkata by 4 wickets on Thursday at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Riding on Kuldeep Yadav’s four-wicket haul, Delhi restricted Kolkata to a modest score of 146 runs at the end of the first innings. Kolkata, once again, came out with a new opening pair but that didn’t work as well.
Both Aaron Finch (3 off 7) and Venkatesh Iyer (6 off 12) walked back to the pavilion without making useful contributions. Kuldeep Yadav then picked the wicket of Indrajith and Narine in consecutive deliveries in the 8th over to leave Kolkata in deep trouble. Inside the first eight overs, Kolkata had lost 4 wickets for just 35 runs.
Nitish Rana then stitched hands with Shreyas Iyer and the duo added 48 for the fifth wicket before the skipper departed while trying to cut a wide delivery to Kuldeep Yadav in the 14th over. Shreyas Iyer made vital 42 runs in 37 balls. Three balls later, Kuldeep Yadav had Andre Russell stumped to make things worst for Kolkata.
Nitish Rana, however, held firm at one end and helped the team reach a reasonable score of 146 runs at the end of the first innings. He scored 57 runs in 34 balls, a knock which was studded with 3 fours and 4 sixes. Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball for Delhi, picking 4 for 14 in 3 overs. Mustafizur Rahman (3 for 18) also returned with impressive figures.
In pursuit of the modest score, Delhi didn’t make a great start. Umesh Yadav sent Prithvi Shaw back to the hut on the very first ball of the second innings. Mitchell Marsh, coming in at three, looked to be aggressive right from the onset of his innings. He struck a couple of fours before flicking the ball straight to Venkatesh Iyer’s throat. Delhi had lost both Shaw and Marsh inside the first two overs with only 17 runs on the board.
David Warner, however, held firm at one end and kept picking boundaries at regular intervals. Warner and Lalit Yadav made a great recovery and Delhi were cruising at 80 for 2 after 9 overs. However, the man in form, Umesh Yadav came into the attack and turned the game, once again. He had Warner (42 off 26) caught at fine-leg. In his very next over, Umesh Yadav accounted for the wicket of Rishabh Pant to bring Kolkata back into the game.
However, valuable contributions from Axar Patel (24 off 17) and Rovman Powell (33 off 16), in the end, meant Delhi reach home in 19 overs. With that, Delhi have now registered 4 wins in 8 matches. Kolkata on the other hand, suffered their fifth consecutive defeat in the tournament. Fans were pretty impressed with Delhi’s collective effort with both bat and ball. They hailed Rishabh Pant and Co. for bouncing back and keeping themselves in the race for the playoffs. Here’s a look at some of the best reactions:
Looks like both the teams tried their best to lose, but only one succeeded. Anyways, positive for DC is that David Warner is still looking in fine touch.. would be a delight to see his next few innings. DC’s playoffs hope is still very much alive. #KKRvDC #TATAIPL2022
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) April 28, 2022
Well bowled @imkuldeep18 match winning spell ! Looking good for a comeback 💪 @Ravipowell26 beautiful to watch #KKRvDC
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) April 28, 2022
Happy that Powell had the chance this time to portray his Power as well as finish the job for @DelhiCapitals. Must say with @y_umesh KKR we’re really good in more than a few situations. @Ravipowell26 👏#KKRvDC #IPL2022
— Reema Malhotra (@ReemaMalhotra8) April 28, 2022
Rovman Powell superstricker of the match, what a match going to be, Well Played Delhi Capitals. Take a bow to Ricky ponting sir who has faith on Rovman, All the best Rishabh Pant for upcoming matches 🔥#RovmanPowell #YehHaiNayiDilli#DCvKKR #KKRvDC #DCvsKKR #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/b05MaDk3RU
— Ashutosh Srivastava (@kingashu1008) April 28, 2022
KKR and their experiment in their batting order is not giving any fruitful product. Only instability is the result.#IPL20222 #KKRvDC
— CricInformer(Cricket News & Fantasy Tips) (@CricInformer) April 28, 2022
Rovman Powell superstricker of the match, what a match going to be, Well Played Delhi Capitals. Take a bow to Ricky ponting sir who has faith on Rovman, All the best Rishabh Pant for upcoming matches 🔥#RovmanPowell #YehHaiNayiDilli#DCvKKR #KKRvDC #DCvsKKR #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/b05MaDk3RU
— Ashutosh Srivastava (@kingashu1008) April 28, 2022
Kuldeep Yadav has been a totally different bowler under Pant's captaincy 🦁.#KKRvDC
— Delhi Capitals Fan (@pantiyerfc) April 28, 2022
#KKRvDC
— Mahendra💘 (@msdhoniiiii) April 28, 2022
Then Now pic.twitter.com/5DITPk4v4i
#KKRvDC
— Harsh Choubey (@Harshchoubey44) April 28, 2022
KKR fans watching Kuldeep Yadav's performance:- pic.twitter.com/JvZpgVuteO
Tough times don't last tough people do. And these two are as tough as they come. So good to see KulCha back in form together 😊 #KKRvDC #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/4bJTdTj8cI
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) April 28, 2022