Whirlwind assault from Sunil Narine and Nitish Rana and a five-wicket haul by Varun Chakravarthy has helped Kolkata Knight Riders [KKR] to smash the Delhi Capitals by 59 runs in Abu Dhabi.
Chasing 195, the Delhi Capitals were rocked early in their run-chase thanks to a double-strike by Pat Cummins in his opening spell.
While Rahane was dismissed on the very first ball of the innings, the law of averages finally caught up with Shikhar Dhawan as Cummins bowled him for a 6-ball 6 in his next over.
With DC in a spot of bother, it needed the duo of Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant to step up to the occasion. The duo took the total to 2-58 after 9 overs at the first strategic Time-Out.
With Rishabh Pant struggling for his timing, Shreyas Iyer took it upon himself to increase the momentum of the innings as he smashed Lockie Ferguson for two fours in the 11th over to bring up the 50-run-stand.
But DC needed sustained assault from both ends. Rishabh Pant (27 off 33 balls) tried to break the shackles by slog-sweeping Varun Chakravarthy on the second delivery of his spell. But Pant couldn’t time it to perfection and was caught by Shubman Gill.
With the asking rate mounting past 15, the Capitals batsmen had no choice but to go hell for leather. And, like Pant, it proved to be the undoing of Shimron Hetmyer and Shreyas Iyer and all of a sudden Chakravarthy found himself on a hat-trick.
Chakravarthy did not claim the hat-trick but he continued to chip away at the wickets as Marcus Stoinis became yet another batsman to hole out in the deep, giving the leg-spinner his 4th wicket. And, he wasn’t done yet, as he knocked over Axar Patel to notch up the best bowling figures of the season [5-20 in 4 overs].
The most striking aspect of Varun’s performance is the fact that barring him, none of the other spinners claimed a wicket in the match. While he gave away just 20 runs in his 4 overs for five wickets, the rest of the spinners went for 0-89 in 8 overs.
His spell ensured that in the end, it was all about the margin of defeat that DC would suffer. Pat Cummins [3-17] returned to claim his 3rd wicket while Ferguson claimed Deshpande in the last over as DC eventually ended up at 9-135 in 20 overs.
Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine’s belligerence propelled KKR to 194 against DC
Batting first, KKR once again failed to make use of the first powerplay, managing just 36 runs for the loss of two wickets in Shubman Gill and Dinesh Karthik.
KKR made two changes to their batting-order in this game. Nitish Rana was pushed to the opening slot while Sunil Narine was promoted to the 5th spot ahead of Eoin Morgan.
And, both tactical punts worked. Nitish Rana finally regained his form as he smashed a whirlwind 53-ball 81- an innings which included 13 fours and a six.
Rana’s 115-run-stand with Sunil Narine came in just 9.2 overs was the turning point in KKR’s innings as the duo- Narine in particular- went hell for leather against the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Tushar Deshpande and Marcus Stonis in the middle overs.
Narine smashed a brutal 32-ball 64 and it was Kagiso Rabada, who finally brought an end to the onslaught. Skipper Eoin Morgan kept with the momentum, smashing a brisk 9-ball 17 as KKR racked up 119 runs in the last 10 overs to end up with 6-194 in 20 overs.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to KKR’s win against DC:
What a comeback by #KKR. #VarunChakravarthy ‘the architect’ of first 5 wicket haul in #IPL2020 . Well done young man! Another chapter in your inspirational story.
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) October 24, 2020
Brilliant bowling by #VarunChakravarthy, a fiver in t20 is a massive milestone! Congrats to @KKRiders for a brilliant victory over @DelhiCapitals ! #KKRvsDC #IPL
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) October 24, 2020
Five wickets in three overs is incredible from Varun Chakravarthy. Especially when the likes of Narine, Cummins around.
— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) October 24, 2020
Varun Chakravarthy had his stint with Punjab ended when he got hit for 24 runs off Sunil Narine. He got injured soon after and never played a game for Punjab. He had been brought for 8 cr by Punjab
KKR picked Varun for 4 Cr and now Varun has become a valuable player for KKR
— Arnav Singh (@Arnavv43) October 24, 2020
Delhi Capitals solving Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin. #IPL pic.twitter.com/6DoKJanfe2
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 24, 2020
Wickets of Varun Chakravarthy in #IPL2020:
Warner
Tewatia
Archer
Dhawan
Dhoni
Suryakumar
Bairstow
PantHe has been providing important wickets in the middle order for KKR.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 24, 2020
KKR bowlers to take a five wicket haul in IPL:
Sunil Narine
Varun Chakravarthy— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) October 24, 2020
OHH YESS!!!
Varun gets his FIFTH wicket of the day! ✋#KKRHaiTaiyaar #Dream11IPL #KKRvDC pic.twitter.com/pvWIFTW5Zh
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) October 24, 2020
Sensational from Varun Chakravarthy. True, #DC batsmen had to go for strokes chasing such a huge target, but without exception, all his 5 victims were beaten in the air or by turn. Great pick by #KKR
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 24, 2020
Varun Chakravarthy is the second uncapped Indian bowler to take five (or more) wickets in an IPL game after Ankit Rajpoot’s 5/14 for #KXIP vs #SRH in Hyderabad in 2018.#KKRvDC #KKR
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) October 24, 2020
We’re doing okay ✌️
DC 112/7 | 15.5 Overs#KKRvDC #YehHaiNayiDilli #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/FuO0p79fct
— Delhi Capitals (Tweeting from ??) (@DelhiCapitals) October 24, 2020
#KKR has used its bowling resources in a very innovative manner….often criticised too. It came off against #CSK and it’s come off tonight too. That’s 4 crucial points. #KKR gets blown away vs #PlayBold and decimate #DelhiCapitals
It’s been an interesting season for them….— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 24, 2020
great to see varun chakravarthy in the spotlight..gave up on cricket, years later felt a void in his life, came back to the game and is now playing with the big boys…his is a lovely story! #DCvKKR #IPL2020
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) October 24, 2020
Varun Chakravarthy entered KKR’s match against DC with eight T20 career wickets from 10 matches at an average of 37.12.
He currently has 5-12 from three overs, the best bowling figures in #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/RPrzIE7ibP
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 24, 2020
Delhi will not like their performance today. Neither will #KXIP & #SRH
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) October 24, 2020
Congratulations on the fifer #VarunChakravarthy #rareint20 @KKRiders
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 24, 2020
#DC being cut down to size. Splendid show by #KKR with bat and ball. Cummins getting two wickets in his opening spells was big boost, Chakravarthy has more or less sealed the issue with 3 wicket burst in 2 overs
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 24, 2020
Axar Patel has the potential to go big for #DelhiCapitals
Against #CSK exactly a week ago, he hit 21 runs from 5 deliveries to see Delhi over the line. He will need to channel that energy again today to go close.
WinViz giving Delhi just a 6% chance of winning.#IPL2020
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 24, 2020
Lowest strike rate in #IPL2020 (150+ balls faced):
110.50 – Finch
111.84 – Gill
118.68* – PANT
122.92 – Rayudu
124.07 – Warner #KKRvDC— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) October 24, 2020
Shreyes Iyer v Varun Chakravarthy in IPL cricket:
9 balls
30 runsRun Rate: 20.00#IPL2020 #DCvsKKR
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 24, 2020
Pant and Iyer have put together a 50-run partnership but it hasn’t come as quickly as they’d have liked#DelhiCapitals need 131 in the last 10 overshttps://t.co/v9aRtjbqoi #KKRvDC #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/9Q9V0K77PP
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 24, 2020
Lockie Ferguson has a total bowling impact of +35.5 so far in #IPL2020 – thats +17.75 per innings he has bowled.
Playing him well today will be key for #DelhiCapitals chances today. WinViz currently giving them a 15% chance of chasing 195 down.#DCvKKR
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 24, 2020
Lockie Ferguson has a career T20 economy rate of 5.98 in overs 7-15 – the lowest for any phase.
His bowling average is just 20.40 – the lowest for any phase.
He is an excellent middle overs bowler, who keeps it tight and takes wickets frequently.#IPL2020 #KKRvsDC
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 24, 2020
First player to smash this milestone for #DelhiCapitals ?
Kya tod batsman hai yaar @RishabhPant17 ?#KKRvDC #Dream11IPL #YehHaiNayiDilli pic.twitter.com/JLzqn3vZWP
— Delhi Capitals (Tweeting from ??) (@DelhiCapitals) October 24, 2020
From 12 days back about #DC , can it happen? (Tough games vs RCB, MI and SRH remaining.) #KKRvDC #IPL2020
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) October 24, 2020
Sunil Narine in IPL 2020
Opener: Four innings | 27 runs | SR 87.09
Middle-order: Two inngs | 81 runs | SR 197.56Spoke about using Narine in the middle over earlier in the season. The move has completely spoiled DC’s bowling plans today.#KKRvsDC https://t.co/zauPw50mzU
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) October 24, 2020
What a innings, Sunil Narine – 64 runs from just 32 balls and added 115 runs from 55 balls with Rana for the 4th wicket.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 24, 2020
KKR batting today:
First 8 overs:
44/3.Last 12 overs:
150/3.•Unbelievable efforts from both Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine to score 115 runs in 10 overs together against the best bowling lineup.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 24, 2020
Sunil Narine scoring against an attack which has three pacers who can bowl at 140+.
This #IPL2020 we have seen literally everything!
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 24, 2020
KKR’s Management to Sunil Narine’s haters who criticize him unnecessarily (congrats mate on ur half century)….!! @KKRiders#KKRvsDC pic.twitter.com/dEoAcJfrGX
— AMAN BHATANIYA (@ABintrovert) October 24, 2020
If I could bat like anyone it would be Sunil Narine. Just give it a whack with a care in the world.
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) October 24, 2020
Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine searching for their haters right now be ?.#KKRvsDCpic.twitter.com/wsiePOOnuW
— Jatin (@JatinSRKian) October 24, 2020
For the First time Sunil Narine scored fifty in IPL as middle order batsman. Fifty in just 24 balls.!! #DCvsKKR
— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) October 24, 2020
KKR storming to life after a slow start today. Definitely a dangerous team when on song.#KKRvDC #DCvsKKR #IPL2020
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) October 24, 2020
Good to see the talented Nitish Rana back amongst the runs. That partnership of 115 with Sunil Narine could be the turning point in this #KKR campaign
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 24, 2020
To bowl Axar just 1 over because there were 2 left handers batting together most of the innings is first, underestimating Axar the bowler & second waste of his current form & confidence as a bowler. #KKRvDC
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 24, 2020
That’s a solid middle over onslaught from KKR … Been told, Nitish Rana’s gesture was a tribute to his father in law who passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer. Keeping emotional turmoil aside to deliver in a big match. Hope it turns around a corner .. #KKRvDC
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) October 24, 2020
Rabada to Morgan in IPL 2020
12 balls
43 runs
SR 358.33
2 X 4s; 5 X 6s#KKRvDC #KKR— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) October 24, 2020
A heart-warming tribute from @NitishRana_27 to his father-in-law, who passed away yesterday. Surinder Marwah.
Rest in peace sir ??#KKRHaiTaiyaar #Dream11IPL #KKRvDC pic.twitter.com/0gH19W9PiV
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) October 24, 2020
The tactic has worked today with Narine scattering the spinners and throwing the middle overs into disarray for @DelhiCapitals. Still think Morgan has to bat at 4 and ensure there is no fire instead of having to fight it. https://t.co/qOxRRpwxhK
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 24, 2020
A brilliant FIFTY for @SunilPNarine74. His 4th in IPL.
He celebrates the same with a MAXIMUM.#Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/obxxs3Hk1i
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 24, 2020
A heart-warming tribute from @NitishRana_27 to his father-in-law, who passed away yesterday. Surinder Marwah.
Rest in peace sir ??#KKRHaiTaiyaar #Dream11IPL #KKRvDC pic.twitter.com/0gH19W9PiV
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) October 24, 2020