Johannesburg: Delhi Daredevils followed up their disciplined bowling with a clinical chase to thump Indian Premier League’s favourite punching bag Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets and reach the top of the points table on Sunday.
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Chasing a modest 124, the Daredevils cruised to 125 for three in 17.1 overs with David Warner (36) and AB de Villiers (40 not out) shining with the bat to fashion a win that helped the Delhi outfit (14) replace Chennai Super Kings (13) at the top of the point chart.
Ashish Nehra of the Dehli Daredevils (L) celebrates after the dismissal of Kolkata Knight Riders’ Brad Hodge (R) during their 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket tournament match in Johannesburg, May 10, 2009. Looking on is Knight Riders’ Sourav Ganguly. Reuters
Asked to take first strike on the Wanderers pitch, Sourav Ganguly (44) and Ajit Agarkar (39) waged grim battle as the Knight Riders fumbled and faltered their way to an unflattering 123 for eight in their allotted 20 overs.
In contrast, the Daredevils’ chase got off to a flying start with David Warner (36) playing in his usual belligerent way and raising 53 runs with Gautam Gambhir (18) in no time.
The portly Australian looked in ominous form as he hit back-to-back fours off Moises Henriques, smote Agarkat out of the park and treated everyone else with characteristic disdain.
In comparison, Gambhir looked little subdued before he fell to Henriques and 13 runs later, Warner’s blitzkrieg ended when he edged Ishant Sharma.