Delhi Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders: IPL 2015 – as it happened
Kolkata Knight Riders absolutely dominated Delhi Daredevils from the toss onwards, an excellent team effort in the field allowing Gautam Gambhir to supervise a chase that they executed with ease
JP Duminy leads a resurgent Delhi Daredevils side against Kolkata Knight Riders. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters
That was a very fine all-round effort from Kolkata. Gambhir called correctly, presided over excellent bowling and fielding, and then handled the batting himself, his artistry and composure allowing his team-mates to play with freedom. They might not be favourites, but they’re certainly contenders.
18th over: Kolkata 144-3 (Gambhir 60, Pathan 40) Gambhir takes a single, then yerman Yusuf hurls his corporeal into an almighty swing, marmalising six over midwicket; you could almost hear the ball screaming in pain.
17th over: Kolkata 136-3 (Gambhir 59, Pathan 33) Gambhir guides two down to the point fence from Mishra’s first ball, and adds a single from his second. Pathan is in his baseball cap - in it’s way cooler than a helmet, in it’s way, uncooler than everything. He pounds one down the ground to advise anyone against pointing this out, and they amble another single.
Meanwhile, an email from Nick: “I wonder, can you possibly explain the reason for these tactical time out thingies because I can’t for the life of me work out what the point is.”
Infatuation with tactical debate, obviously - I’m sure the opportunity to advertise is a complete annoyance.
16th over: Kolkata 131-3 (Gambhir 55, Pathan 32) Pathan whips Coulter-Nile’s first ball for four, through midwicket, and then slams his fourth over cover. This is, like, so, over. And now it’s even overer, four more guided to the vacant third man; definitely time for a strategic interlude.
15th over: Kolkata 119-3 (Gambhir 55, Pathan 20) Tahir’s here, for all the difference that’s going to make now. A pair of nurdle-jog combos keep the score ticking, before one heading for leg is quickly escorted to fine-leg for four by Pathan. Amazing, how big people can be dextrous!
14th over: Kolkata 111-3 (Gambhir 53, Pathan 14) Gambhir has made this fandango look incredibly easy, and he raises his 50 from Mathews’ first ball, clubbing a pull in front of square for four. What form he’s in - his scores in the competition so far are 57, 58, 11 and 51*. Next comes the run down to third man, so that when he returns to strike, Mathews goes around the wicket to cramp him - but he still finds the angle to do likewise.
13th over: Kolkata 102-3 (Gambhir 46, Pathan 12) Mishra continues, and after two dots, catches Pathan on the pad with a googly. But Chris Gaffney says nup - inexplicably, at first and second glance. Which means that Pathan is there to punish the final ball through the covers for four, and Kolkata need 45 off 42 to win.
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