Veteran off-spinner Sunil Narine delivered a game-turning spell, taking three wickets in seven balls, as Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Delhi Capitals by 14 runs in a high-scoring IPL clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, rekindling their hopes of making the playoffs.
Put in to bat, KKR posted a formidable 204 for nine, bolstered by a fiery opening stand between Sunil Narine (27) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (26), who added 48 runs off just 17 balls — the franchise’s highest opening partnership this season.
Despite a valiant 76-run fourth-wicket stand between Faf du Plessis (62) and Axar Patel (43), Delhi's chase ran aground once Narine returned to the attack in the 14th over. He dismissed Axar and Tristan Stubbs in the same over, then removed du Plessis two balls into his next over, to put the brakes on DC’s momentum.
The hosts eventually finished on 190 for nine, succumbing to their third home loss of the season.
“We needed someone to step up at the right time and Sunil was brilliant in the middle overs,” KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane said after the match. “This win keeps us alive and we are focused on the games ahead.”
Chasing 205, Delhi got off to a shaky start. Anukul Roy justified his captain’s faith by removing Abhishek Porel (4) with his second delivery. Vaibhav Arora sent back Karun Nair (15) leg-before, while a direct hit from Narine saw KL Rahul (7) run out, leaving DC reeling at 62 for three.
Axar and du Plessis then launched a counter-attack. The South African right-hander reached his half-century in 31 balls, striking Chakravarthy for two fours and a six in the process. Axar, too, batted with aggression, smashing four boundaries and three sixes in a 23-ball knock.
But Narine's double blow in the 14th over, followed by the prized wicket of du Plessis, proved decisive. With 59 needed off the last 30 balls, Ashutosh Sharma briefly lifted hopes by hitting Harshit Rana over long-off, but Chakravarthy struck twice in a crucial over to remove Ashutosh and Mitchell Starc.
Vipraj Nigam launched a late blitz, scoring two sixes and three boundaries, but it was not enough to bridge the gap.
Earlier, Narine took the attack to Dushmantha Chameera (1/46), plundering 25 runs in an over, including a one-handed six over midwicket. Gurbaz and Rahane (26) maintained the momentum as KKR raced to 79 for one at the end of the powerplay.
However, Axar and Vipraj Nigam (2/41) dragged things back with timely wickets. After Narine was trapped leg-before, Axar dismissed Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer (7) in quick succession to leave KKR at 117 for four at the halfway stage.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44) and Rinku Singh (36) rebuilt with a composed 61-run partnership. Rinku hammered Kuldeep Yadav for two boundaries and a six in a 17-run over, while Raghuvanshi lofted Vipraj for two maximums.
Just when acceleration seemed imminent, KKR lost both batters in successive overs. Andre Russell’s late cameo (a six and two fours) ensured the total crossed 200, but KKR lost three wickets in the final over, including two to Mitchell Starc, who bowled with renewed fire.
The win lifted KKR to nine points, keeping them in contention, though they remained in seventh place. Delhi stayed in the top four with 12 points.
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