Sharjah: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) avoided a late scare to defeat table-toppers Delhi Capitals (DC) by three wickets while chasing 136 in the IPL 2021 Qualifier 2, here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
KKR will now face three-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL final on Friday.
Eoin Morgan-led side, who were at one stage cruising to win with 13 runs needed off the last 25 balls, lost the track as they lost six wickets in quick succession. When KKR needed 6 runs off 2 balls Rahul Tripathi (12 not out off 11 balls) hit a huge six off R Ashwin, helping his team win the match by three wickets.
KKR's late batting collapse was a stark contrast of their bowling performance, where they restricted DC at 135/5 in the first innings. Varun Chakravarthy (2/26) picked the key wickets while the DC batting unit looked a pale shadow of a team that topped the league table. Dhawan top-scored with an off-colour 39-ball 36 while Shreyas Iyer's 30 off 27 gave DC's total some semblance of respectability.
Chasing a paltry 136 runs target, KKR openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer took an aggressive stance by smashing 51 runs in the powerplay.
Iyer did most of the damage by hitting 31 runs in 20 balls, including three sixes and two fours.
There was no respite on offer for DC bowlers post powerplay as well with the duo adding more 37 runs in the next five overs. Iyer reached his half century soon after in 38 balls as DC captain Rishabh Pant looked at with none of his star bowlers finding the opening wicket.
The breakthrough came as late as the 13th over with Kagiso Rabada dismissing Iyer at 55 (41). With 96/1 at this stage meant KKR were the favourites to clinch the game.
However, superb spells by Delhi bowlers took the game down to the wire as Kolkata lost six wickets in space of seven runs.
Delhi pace trio of Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Avesh Khan gave away just six runs and took three quick wickets, in the death overs to trigger the opportunity for a turnaround.
Defending seven runs off the last over, veteran spinner Ashwin bowled three dots, including two wickets in the last over, to put his side at front. However, KKR's Tripathi changed all that with a huge six over the long-off to seal the match. (UNI)
