NEW DELHI — Kolkata Knight Riders got their Indian Premier League 2016 campaign off to a great start with a nine-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils at Eden Gardens Sunday.
On a grassy pitch that offered plenty of assistance to the bowlers, KKR dismissed Delhi for a paltry 98, before chasing it down with 37 balls in hand.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, KKR pacers Andre Russell (3-24) and John Hastings (2-6) ran through the Delhi top order and took four wickets between them in the powerplay.
Spinners Brad Hogg (3-19) and Piyush Chawla (2-21) then chipped in with two wickets apiece to skittle the rest of the batting order.
KKR hardly missed the talismanic Sunil Narine as they made great use of the conditions. Only four Delhi batsmen got into double figures.
KKR openers Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa got the team off to a flying start in their chase, racing to 47-0 in the first six overs. Uthappa was soon dismissed for a 33-ball 35, before Gambhir (38 not out off 41 balls) and Manish Pandey (15 not out off 12 balls) took them home.
Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 99 for 1 (Gambhir 38 not out, Uthappa 35) beat Delhi Dardevils 98 (De Kock 17, Hogg 3-19, Russell 3-24) by nine wickets. — Agencies
