IPL 2024: Kuldeep's late heroics with the bat helps DC reach 153 vs KKR

DC’s Kuldeep Yadav during his 35 not out yesterday. Pic/AFP

Delhi Capitals crumbled amidst a heady cocktail of pace and spin served by the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Monday. It was thanks to No. 9 Kuldeep Yadav's 26-ball 35 that the visitors were able to finish on 153 for 9 when the overs ran out. Kuldeep was dropped twice, on 10 and 32, as the Knights let slip several opportunities even as there were a few sparks of brilliance. That he was the top-scorer was a statement in itself.

The bowlers had a field day with Varun Chakravarthy, later substituted out by young Angkrish Raghuvanshi, picked up 3-16 in his four overs. Harshid Rana had two for 28, Vaibhav Arora 2-29 while Sunil Narine came away with one for 24. At the time of going to press, KKR were 96-1 in eight overs. Earlier, going against the current trend, the visitors chose to bat, and it didn't take long for their troubles to begin.

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Mitchell Starc, having to sit out the last match to nurse a bruised finger, leaked 15 runs in the opening over, but Vaibhav Aurora drew first blood in the next as Prithvi Shaw tickled one down the leg-side. Starc went for 12 in the next over, but the left-arm pacer dealt the most crucial blow by removing the dangerous Jake Fraser-McGurk. The 22-year-old Aussie, here after some breathtaking innings, hit Starc for a six and a four before falling to a great catch by Venkatesh Iyer at deep backward square-leg. Vaibhav accounted for Shai Hope with a peach of a delivery in the next over and the Capitals were reduced to 37 for three.

When Axar Patel joined skipper Rishabh Pant after the fourth wicket fell, the visitors would have hoped for an encore of the partnership that helped them to a narrow victory over Gujarat Titans less than a week ago. It was not to be.