IPL 2021, Match 41: Narine, Rana help KKR prevail over Delhi, move to 10 points- In Pics

Struggling at 96/5 on a very slow surface at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, it looked like Kolkata Knight Riders would make heavy weather of the small target of 128 runs against Delhi Capitals in the UAE leg of the IPL 2021 on Tuesday. But a couple of big shots by spinner Sunil Narine and Nitish Rana helped them to a three wickets win. KKR moved to 10 points from 11 matches and maintained their chances of reaching the knockout stage.

After restricting Delhi Capitals to 127/9 in 20 overs thanks to some disciplined bowling after electing to field, Kolkata Knight Riders looked in trouble as Dinesh Karthik was out with the score 96/5. But Sunil Narine tonked Kagiso Rabada for 21 off the innings' 16th over and though the Knights lost a couple of more wickets, they managed to reach 130/7 with 10 balls remaining. Rana remained unbeaten on 36.

After losing Venkatesh Iyer (14), who was one of the three KKR bowlers along with Narine and Lockie Ferguson to claim two wickets apiece, Kolkata were looking at fellow opener Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi to build up the innings. Gill kept one end going, hitting a couple of sixes but Tripathi did not last long and KKR were 43/2 in the 6th over. They lost Gill (3) and skipper Eoin Morgan (0) in quick succession and slumped to 67/4.

This was the second time in the season that Delhi failed to hit a single six in their innings. Kolkata had bowlers coming to the fore with Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, and part-timer Venkatesh Iyer picking up two wickets each while Tim Southee had one scalp to his name.

Though Dinesh Karthik and Rana tried to resurrect the innings, mixing caution with aggression, the equation looked a bit stiff at 52 off 43 balls considering the slow nature of the pitch. However, KKR scored 20 runs off the 14th over bowled by Lalit Yadav with Rana blasting a couple of sixes off successive balls and Karthik hitting a four. But Karthik got out, castled while trying to run a slower one by Avesh Khan to the third man, Delhi were still in the hunt.

Earlier, Delhi Capitals kept losing wickets at regular intervals against some disciplined bowling KKR on a sluggish pitch in scorching conditions as they were restricted to 127/9.