Chennai Super Kings beat Deccan Chargers by 19 runs

Chennai: Chennai Super Kings bowlers displayed lot of discipline at the death to defeat Deccan Chargers by 19 runs in an IPL match at the Chepauk today.

Chasing a stiff target of 166, the defending champions restricted Chargers to 146 for eight in 20 overs despite a flying start by the visitors.

Pint sized Chargers opener Sunny Sohal (56, 30 balls, 6x4, 4x6) initially scared Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men with some clean hitting but once he was gone CSK came back into the match. Credit should be given to CSK as Chargers had raced to 71 for no loss in only 6.4 overs courtesy Sohal.

In Image: Chennai Super Kings bowler Doug Bollinger(2nd R) celebrates taking the wicket of Deccan Chargers batsman Kumar Sangakara with his teammates

Text: PTI

Images: AFP

Dhoni made some smart bowling changes and his bowlers led by Albie Morkel (3/38 and 19 off 6 balls), Doug Bollinger (2/26) and Ravichandran Ashwin (0/23 off 4 overs) bowled well in the final overs as CSK notched up their fifth win eight matches and are now fourth in the points table.

Sohal scored the fastest 50 of this edition when he reached the landmark in 24 deliveries with the help of a flat batted six off Ravichandran Ashwin. Sohal's approach was a bit unorthodox but yielded rich dividends.

When Morkel delivered a well-directed short-ball aimed at his rib-cage, he lost his balance hung his bat to get a four through third man region. But the little man wasn't unperturbed by short stuff as he made room moving towards leg-stump to hit Morkel over extra cover.

Such was Sohal's authority that his senior partner Shikhar Dhawan hadn't even reached double figures when he completed his 50. When Sohal departed trying an ugly reverse sweep to a low full-toss from Shadab Jakati onto his stumps.

Dhawan (19, 27 balls) who is having a lean patch was gone when he tried to hit Jakati over deep mid-wicket but the ball turned enough to castle him.

In Image: Deccan Chargers batsman Sunny Sohal is watched by Chennai Super Kings wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni as he misses a shot to get out

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara (15, 1x4, 1x6) announced his arrival with a sweetly-timed boundary of Suraj Randiv followed by slog sweep off Jakati that got him six runs. Bharat Chipli (17) failed to keep down his flick and became Morkel's first victim.

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However, post Sohal's dismissal, the fizz was gone and suddenly the CSK bowlers looked like getting a hang of things.

In his bid to step up the rate, Sangakkara moved towards off-stump trying to guide a Doug Bollinger delivery past fine leg but couldn't connect as the ball hit middle stump. After that it was about holding their nerves which CSK bowlers did.

In Image: Deccan Chargers batsman Sunny Sohal plays a shot 

Earlier, a fine half century from Suresh Raina backed by superb slogging by Albie Morkel at the death helped defending champions Chennai Super Kings post commendable 165 for five against Deccan Chargers on a slow Chepauk track.

While Raina showed signs of returing to form with a 35-ball 59 (6x4, 2x6), it was Morkel (19, 6 balls, 3x6) who hit three of the biggest sixes in the penultimate over off Ishant Sharma's (4-0-41-0) bowling to spoil his figures.

The last five overs saw CSK smashing 69 runs with Raina, doing the bulk of the scoring.

Murali Vijay and Michael Hussey made quiet start before Pragyan OJha (3/26) dismissed Vijay.

Ojha angled one into Vijay (3, 14 balls) who was cramped for room while going for a cut-shot. Vijay was struggling to keep the scoreboard ticking on a slowish pitch and the dismissal only ended his misery.

Raina, who hasn't had a great IPL so far showed lot of composure on a slow track where one found it difficult to readily go after the bowling.

In Image: Suresh Raina plays a shot

Rajasthan Royals beat Pune Warriors by 6 wickets

Jaipur: Ross Taylor smashed a quickfire unbeaten 47 as Rajasthan Royals thumped Pune Warriors by six wickets in a thrilling encounter to jump to the top of the table in Indian Premier League here today.

Taylor, who was dropped when on 31, smashed four boundaries and two sixes in his 35-ball unbeaten knock and shared 52 runs with Ajinkya Rahane (15 not out) for the unseparated fifth wicket to chase down the target of 144 with three balls to spare.

At one stage, it looked like Pune would snap their five-match losing streak with the asking rate rising near 11 by the 16th over but Taylor and Rahane kept their nerves as Rajasthan reached 144 for four in 19.3 overs in the match that went down the wire.

In Image: Rajasthan Royals batsman Ross Taylor celebrates after his team won the match 

Text: PTI

Images: AP

With the victory today, Rajasthan Royals have won 15 of their 19 matches they had played at Sawai Man Singh Stadium in the IPL so far.

They are now on top of IPL table with 11 points from nine matches ahead of Kolkata Knight Riders (10 points from eight matches) and Mumbai Indians (10 from seven).

For Pune, who dropped three catches in the match, leg-spinner Rahul Sharma took three for 13 while Alfonso Thomas got one wicket. Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik went wicketless for 41 runs from his four overs.

Chasing 144 for a win, the RR openers Shane Watson (12) and Rahul Dravid (18) did not contribute much and that gave Pune a chance before Taylor and Rahane took the game away.

Pune started their bowling with Kartik and he could have achieved success in his fourth ball itself but Manish Pandey failed to hold onto a difficult catch and Watson survived.

In Image: Rajasthan Royals Johan Botha bats as Pune Warriors wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa looks on

Watson did not, however, stay long as he was out in the fifth over with Thomas finding his edge with an outswinger for Robin Uthappa to take the catch behind the stumps.

Dravid, who hit two flourishing fours early on, later struggled and was dropped by Harpreet Singh in sixth over.

But the blunder did not cost Rajasthan Royals dear as Dravid was out in the eighth over with the addition of just four runs to his individual score. The former India captain was caught and bowled by Rahul Sharma in a soft dismissal.

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RR lost their third wicket in the 11th over in the form of Johan Botha (12) but they were still on course at 59/3.

Taylor and Ashok Maneria (29) had some lusty hits mainly off Kartik but the asking rate rose to more than 10 by the end of the 15th over.

In Image: British actress and Shane Warne's girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley reacts during the match

Knight Riders thrash Kings XI Punjab by 8 wickets

Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders produced a clinical bowling and batting display as they crushed Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets to jump to the top of table in the Indian Premier League here today.

KKR bowlers first restricted KXIP to a meagre 119 for six riding on Iqbal Abdullah's tidy spell of 2/19 before captain Gautam Gambhir led the batting charge with an unbeaten 45 from 44 balls to chase down the small target of 120 with 16 balls to spare.

Manoj Tiwary chipped in with an unbeaten 34 from 41 balls as he stitched 85 runs with Gambhir from just 75 balls for the unseparated third wicket.

In Image: Kolkata Knight Riders' captain Gautam Gambhir, left, and teammate Eoin Morgan chat during their innings 

Continuing his superb form, Tiwary, who averages an amazing 109.5 after seven matches in the IPL, looked at ease as he slowly got into the groove before launching into attack.

Chasing a meagre 120 for a win, KKR lost two wickets by the fifth over for 35 runs on a turning Eden Gardens pitch but Gambhir and Tiwary took the side home to 120 for two from 17.2 overs.

With the win today, their third in a row, KKR joined Mumbai Indians on top of table at 10 points from eight matches. Mumbai Indians though had played one match less.

The KKR openers Jacques Kallis (1) and Eoin Morgan (28) fell inside five overs but the asking rate never rose above five as their batsmen found at least a boundary for almost every over.

In Image: Manoj Tiwary in action

Bharghav Bhatt got the turn from the slow pitch as he removed Kallis and Morgan early to give KXIP in for a chance in the match.

Kallis fell in the second over as he checked his shot off a turning ball and but it looped to cover for an overhead catch by David Hussey.

Ryan Harris then held on a superb catch at deep midwicket to end Morgan's cameo. He charged in from the deep and held the ball low as it was dipping on him. Morgan hit six fours in his 15-ball innings.

In Image: Bollywood actor and Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan , front second right, and Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra cheer for their team

Despite the two early wickets, KKR cruised along and they were 71 for two at the halfway stage. KXIP captain Adam Gilchrist shuffled his bowlers but failed to contain the third wicket partnership of captain Gautam Gambhir and Manoj Tiwary.

Gambhir and Tiwary brought up their 50-run partnership from just 46 balls at the end of 12 overs. With just 35 runs required from eight overs and eight wickets remaining, KKR took control of the match though KXIP slow bowlers extracted big turns from the pitch.

The duo played sensibly, rotating strikes and hitting occasional boundaries.

Towards the end, Tiwary hoisted Piyush Chawla for a huge six in the 16th over before Gambhir hit the winning run, a single off the same bowler two overs later.

In Image: Kolkata Knight Riders' Manoj Tiwary plays a shot

With 22 for no loss after three overs, KXIP had set the ball rolling but could not sustain the momentum against Knight Riders slow bowlers.

The duo of Pathan and Abdulla not only slowed down the run-rate but they did well in dismissing the dangerous looking KXIP top three -- Valthaty (7), Shaun Marsh (5) and Gilchrist (26) -- for the addition of just 12 runs.

From 32 for no loss after 4.2 overs, KXIP were reduced to 44/3 after 7.5 overs as Knight Riders did a superb turnaround.

Part-time off-spinner Pathan extracted good bounce and turn, while Abdulla was equally tidy with his left-arm spin.

Pathan gave the breakthrough, scalping Valthaty while in the very next over the in-form Marsh perished as a misunderstanding with Gilchrist resulted to a run-out.

The worse followed soon when Abdulla bowled Gilchrist in between the legs to open up the KXIP middle-order.

Another run out followed -- this time of Abhishek Nayar (0) -- as KXIP were reduced to 53/4 after 9.2 overs.

The series of dismissals after a fine start meant that KXIP could score only 15 in five overs as it was left for Karthik and David Hussey to do the repair work.

In a much needed partnership, the duo added 31 from 34 balls to push the total before Hussey, a former Knight Rider, became Abdulla's second victim, falling for 15.

Knight Riders were not sharp on the field, as overthrows and misfielding were there, as KXIP were also equally lackluster in their batting.

The city received a spell of showers hours before the match, though that had little affect on the ground conditions.

In Image: Kolkata Knight Riders Yusuf Pathan, second left, is congratulated by teammates after dismissing Kings XI Punjab's Paul Valthaty

Delhi Daredevils beat Kochi Tuskers Kerala by 38 runs

KOCHI: Virender Sehwag hit a rollicking half-century as Delhi Daredevils scored a 38-run win over Kochi Tuskers Kerala to keep its play-offs hopes alive in the Indian Premier League in Kochi on Saturday.

Sehwag blazed his way to a 47-ball 80 to lead his side to a competitive 157 for seven after electing to bat on a very difficult track, which had uneven bounce.

Delhi were gasping 37 for three at one stage but Sehwag played sensibly as he first guarded his wicket when his teammates were vanishing from the other end and then played his usual aggressive self.

The visitors then bowled out the hosts for 119 in 18.5 overs to record a much-needed win as they were languishing at the bottom of the points table, coming into this contest.

In Image: Sehwag plays a shot as Kochi Tuskers' Parthiv Patel looks on

Text: PTI

Images: AFP

It was Delhi's third win in eight matches while Kochi now have suffered third defeat in a row.

With this win Delhi have jumped to seventh spot from 10th while Kochi are now second from last.

Batting was a big challenge on the Nehru stadium wicket for both the sides as some balls did not bounce above the ankles and some zoomed up to the chin level.

The Delhi pace trio of Morne Morkel (3/18), Ajit Agarkar (2/23) and Irfan Pathan (2/27) shared seven wickets among them and played a crucial role in scripting their side's win.

Spinner Roelof van der Merwe (3/20) ran through the Kochi tail, taking three wickets in five balls in the 19th over, to contribute in win.

In Image: Delhi Daredevils bowler Irfan Pathan (2nd L) with teammates celebrate the wicket of Kochi Tuskers Kerala batsman Parthiv Patel

Earlier, Sehwag played a true captain's knock as it came on a very difficult track and under difficult circumstances.

Yogesh Nagar (22) and Travis Birt (20) also supported Sehwag well as they shared 56 and 41 runs stand with their skipper for the fourth and fifth wickets respectively.

Sehwag got out in the 18th over when he attempted a big shot off Vinay Kumar, but not before hitting eight fours and five sixes.

Seamer S Sreesnath was most successful bowler for the hosts as he gave away just 10 runs in his four overs and scalped two top-order batsmen.

It was a horror start for Delhi after electing to bat as Sreesanth bowled David Warner (3) and trapped Naman Ojha (0) in his first over, second of the innings.

But both the batsmen were unlucky as both the balls kept low, specially the ball in which Ojha was declared lbw, was almost unplayable.

In Image: Virender Sehwag celebrates after scoring a half-century

The track was double paced and the uneven bounce made life tough for the batsmen. Sehwag though was in no mood to go without a fight as he quickly extracted four boundaries, three off the RP Singh's overs.

Delhi reached 34 for two in six but Ravindra Jadeja made it 37 for three by trapping Y Venugopal Rao (1) and Delhi's innings was in complete disarray.

There was no space for extravagance and Sehwag too decided to hold the one end tight as Delhi reached 46 for three after 10 overs.

The fourth boundary of the innings came from the blade of Yogesh Nagar, who dispatched one from Vinay Kumar to the extra cover fence.

Sehwag upped the ante by hitting Jadeja for back-to-back sixes and then raised his half-century by pulling Vinay Kumar for a six over mid-wicket in the 15th over.

Nagar was run out in the same over but now there was no stopping Sehwag, who smashed Balachandra Akhil for a six and two fours in the next over.

Spinner Romesh Powar was given the similar treatment but Sehwag could play till the end.

In Image: Kochi Tuskers Kerala bowler Ravindra Jadeja (2nd R) with teammates celebrate the wicket of Delhi Daredevils batsman Venugopal Rao (L)

Kohli, Gayle lead RCB to 26-run win over Pune

Royal Challengers Bangalore rode on Virat Kohli's whirlwind half century and Chris Gayle's blitzkrieg to notch up a comfortable 26-run win over Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here today.

Put into bat, Kohli smashed 67 off 42 balls after Gayle laid the foundation with 49 off a mere 26 deliveries, to lead the home team's challenge at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

In reply, Pune could not not manage more than 155 for five in their stipulated 20 overs, despite a fighting fifty from Jesse Ryder and a quick-fire 23-ball 41 from skipper Yuvraj Singh.

Ryder hit four fours and two sixes while Yuvraj's knock included two fours and three sixes.

Image: Royal Challengers Bangalore's Virat Kohli bats during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Pune Warriors in Bangalore, India, Friday, April 29, 2011.

Text: PTI
Images: AP

Earlier, Kohli smashed four boundaries and as many sixes during his stay at the crease while Gayle found the ropes three times and cleared it the same number of times.

After a quiet first over, Tillakaratne Dilshan scored the first boundary of the Bangalore innings, when he drove Jerome Taylor's short of length delivery through the covers.

Thereafter, till the last ball of the ninth over, the show completely belonged to Gayle, who unleashed an array of hefty blows, leaving the opposition bowlers hapless, and the home crowd delighted.

On the receiving end of Gayle's furious onslaught was Kamran Khan who conceded 47 runs in his three overs.

The big-hitting West Indies opener picked the left-arm seamer for 20 runs, including two massive sixes and two boundaries, in the innings' third over.

Image: Royal Challengers Bangalore Saurabh Tiwary attempts to play a shot during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Pune Warriors in Bangalore, India, Friday, April 29, 2011.

After being welcomed with a four over extra cover, Kamran was sent over long-off for the maximum. He then bowled a short one, which was smashed over long-on by the marauding left-hander.

More misery was in store for Kamran as he conceded two more sixes and a boundary in the sixth over and his second.

The over-pitched one was sent soaring over the backward point, the short of length delivery was thumped over long-on while length balls were whacked through the midwicket region.

Leg-spinner Rahul Sharma removed Dilshan and Gayle in quick succession but Kohli had other ideas.

The stylish right-hander from Delhi pummeled Kamran's length ball over long-on for and six, and moments later, did the same to Sharma.

Image: Pune Warriors' Rahul Sharma, center without cap, celebrates the dismissal of Royal Challengers Bangalore's Tillakaratne Dilshan, not seen, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match in Bangalore, India, Friday, April 29, 2011.

Kohli then picked Taylor for two more sixes, the first one over square leg and the next over third man. Kohli was literally toying with the Pune bowlers till he holed out to Harpreet Singh off Alfonso Thomas in the penultimate over.

Taylor bowled a tight last over -- in which only six runs were scored -- to prevent Bangalore from racing to an even bigger total. But it didn't matter in the end as the target of 182 proved to be too uphill a task for the visitors, whose cause was not helped by a sluggish start.

Picked in place of Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine consumed 17 deliveries for his eight runs before Sreenath Aravind ended his stay. Jesse Ryder started on positive note, scoring a few boundaries, but they needed more than that to stay in the hunt.

Image: Pune Warriors Jerome Taylor, center, reacts as Royal Challengers Bangalore's Saurabh Tiwary, left, and Virat Kohli walk to greet each other during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Pune Warriors in Bangalore, India, Friday, April 29, 2011. 

Botha stars in Rajasthan's seven wicket win over Mumbai

Johan Botha produced an all-round show to enable Rajasthan Royals inflict a seven wicket defeat on table toppers Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League match here today.

After spinning a web around the Mumbai batsmen with impressive figures of three for six, Botha sparkled with the bat as well, scoring vital 44 runs off 39 balls, during which he struck two fours and a six, to set the platform for Rajasthan's victory.

Chasing a paltry 95-run target, Rajasthan batsmen played sensibly to overwhelm Mumbai's score with 11 balls to spare at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium here.

Apart from Botha, Shane Watson (26 off 32) and Ross Taylor (13 not out) made double digit scores while Munaf Patel (2/18) emerged as the best bowler for the visitors.

Image: Rajasthan Royals bowler Johan Botha, right, celebrates with captain Shane Warne after dismissing Mumbai Indians Kieron Pollard, unseen, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match in Jaipur, India, Friday, April 29, 2011

Earlier, Rajasthan came up with an inspiring bowling display to restrict a formidable Mumbai Indians to a paltry 94 for eight.

Opting to field, Rajasthan bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals as the star-studded Mumbai batting line-up fumbled under pressure to slump to their lowest total in the tournament. Incidentally, it also the lowest total at this ground.

Only four Mumbai batsmen reached double figures but none could cross the 20-run mark with Andrew Symonds being the top-scorer with 17 followed by Davy Jacobs (15).

With figures of 3/6, Botha was the pick of Rajasthan bowlers while the duo of Maneria (2/20) and Amit Singh (2/14) scalped two wickets each.

Image: Rajasthan Royals wicketkeeper Dishant Harendra Yagnik, right, celebrates with captain Shane Warne, center, after stumping out Mumbai Indians Sachin Tendulkar, unseen, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match in Jaipur, India, Friday, April 29, 2011.

Rajasthan began their chase on a cautious note with Watson and Rahul Dravid putting on 17 runs for the first wicket in 4.3 overs before the latter scooped a Patel slower delivery straight to Tendulkar at midwicket.

Watson and Botha then took Rajasthan past the 50-run mark, stitching 39 off 43 balls for the second wicket.

But just when it seemed the duo will run away with the match, Watson edged a Lasith Malinga short ball to Jacobs behind the wicket.

Botha, however, was unlucky to have missed out on a half century as he was bowled by Patel just five runs short of the target.

Image: Rajasthan Royals Johan Botha, right, attempts a shot in front of Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper Davy Jacobs during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match in Jaipur, India, Friday, April 29, 2011.

To make matters worse for Mumbai, two more wickets -- Ambati Rayudu and Rohit Sharma -- were also dismissed in a span of six overs to see Mumbai in serious trouble at 50 for four at the half-way mark of their innings.

While Rayudu gave a straight forward caught and bowl chance to Maneria in the ninth over, Sharma was holed out at long-off boundary by Johan Botha off Rajasthan skipper Shane Warne in the next.

After the early wickets, Mumbai found runs difficult to come by and even Andrew Symonds and big-hitting Keiron Pollard struggled to break loose as Rajasthan bowlers tightened the noose around their opponents.

Image: Rajasthan Royals wicketkeeper Dishant Harendra Yagnik, right, celebrates after stumping out Mumbai Indians Sachin Tendulkar, left, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match in Jaipur, India, Friday, April 29, 2011.

Pollard's struggle finally came to an end when Botha got him out lbw with the West Indian making a miserable 4 off 15 balls, which surely was against his reputation.

Symonds too failed to make much of an impact as Botha accounted for two wickets in the 18th over to dig the final nail in Mumbai's coffin.

The South African off-spinner first cleaned up Symonds and then a ball later gave Yagnik his second stumping of the day as he outwitted R Sathish.

Harbhajan Singh finished off the Mumbai innings in style with a six over deep mid-wicket of Shane Watson.

Image: Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne attempts a catch off his own bowling during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match against Mumbai Indians in Jaipur, India, Friday, April 29, 2011. 

Gambhir's KKR beat Sehwag's DD by 17 runs

It turned out to be a sweet 'homecoming' for Gautam Gambhir as Kolkata Knight Riders comprehensively beat Delhi Daredevils by 17 runs to notch up their fourth win in the Indian Premier League here today.

Put into bat, Manoj Tiwary's gutsy half century helped KKR post a modest 148 for seven and then their bowlers got the dangerous Virender Sehwag and David Warner within the first seven overs to restrict the home to 131 for nine.

The win took KKR to eight points while Delhi stay put on four following their fifth loss and their road to recovery from here looks pretty bleak.

Not only it was satisfying for Gambhir to earn the bragging rights over best buddy Sehwag but it also brought the smile back in the face of Shah Rukh Khan who enjoyed his first victory in his hometown as he shook a leg with Cheer Girls to the tune of Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re.

Image: Kolkata Knight Riders' Manoj Tiwary bats during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match against Delhi Daredevils in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 28, 2011.

Text: PTI
Images: AP

The Daredevils this season are highly dependent on Virender Sehwag-David Warner combination. While Warner dragged one from Balaji that shaped in slightly onto his stumps, Sehwag (34, 23 balls, 5x4, 1x6) was in a punishing mood as he hit a flurry of boundaries in the first five overs.

It was young Jaidev Unadkat who got the dangerous Daredevils captain with a short ball that hurried onto him as he went for a pull and Balaji, who was standing at deep fine leg, didn't make any mistake. Sehwag's dismissal literally put the brakes on scoring as all the KKR bowlers did a splendid job during the middle overs.

James Hopes (25, 30 balls) simply didn't get going which led to additional pressure on other batsmen who perished going for big shots. Iqbal Abdulla was the pick of the KKR bowlers scalping three wickets for 25.

Image: Kolkata Knight Riders' Manoj Tiwary bats during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match against Delhi Daredevils in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 28, 2011.

Earlier, Tiwary scored 61 off only 47 balls (2x4, 3x6) as the other KKR batsmen failed to provide substantial support to the Bengal captain. Apart from Shreevats Goswami, who scored 22, none of the other top-order KKR batsmen crossed the 20-run mark.

For Tiwary, who has got some good scores in this tournament so far, this was one innings where he shouldered a lot of responsibility staying till the end.

If one took Tiwary's contribution out, KKR's scorecard would have cut a sorry picture after being put into bat by Daredevils captain Sehwag.

Irfan Pathan (1/16), for the first time in the tournament, looked incisive while young Umesh Yadav (2/29) was a revelation with the ball.

Image: Kolkata Knight Riders bowler Jaidev Unadkat reacts with teammates after taking the wicket of Delhi Daredevils Virender Sehwag, unseen, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 28, 2011.

Sent into bat, KKR batsmen found the going tough as Irfan was swinging in the ball and Kallis couldn't keep a flick down which David Warner spilled at mid-wicket.

His partner Goswami, who got his first game in the tournament, played some flashy shots and missed a few in between. A slash over third man, a cut over point and a thumping lofted hit that cannoned to the boundary were all hit off Morne Morkel (1/42), who turned out to be the most expensive among Delhi bowlers.

Kallis, who started off with a few singles, then tried to break the shackles hitting Morkel for a couple of boundaries. But Irfan finally was rewarded for bowling a good line as Kallis (11) shuffled a bit too much and the ball swung enough to clip the leg stump.

Image: Delhi Daredevils James Hopes, right, attempts a shot as Kolkata Knight Riders wicket keeper Shreevats Goswami watches, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 28, 2011.

Skipper Gambhir started with a square cut off Yadav and was then lucky to survive as he mistimed a pull-shot which Irfan, running backwards, failed to latch on.

But Goswami (22, 20 balls, 4x4) didn't last long as Ajit Agarkar dismissed him with the very first ball of his spell. It was a fullish delivery outside the off-stump which Goswami wanted to steer but only managed to edge it to Naman Ojha behind the stumps.

Tiwary started off with a boundary as he opened the face of the bat to guide it to third man where Irfan's bloomer saw the ball cross the ropes. It was the 11th over of the innings bowled by Agarkar that cost Delhi 15 runs with 14 being scored by Tiwary. A full toss on the legs was gleefully dispatched over the square leg fence.

Image: Delhi Daredevils batsman David Warner is bowled out during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 28, 2011.

However Hopes made amends in the very next over when Gambhir (18, 19 balls, 2x4) in his bid to step up the run-rate was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Y Venugopal Rao.

There was no stopping Tiwary though as he hit Morkel over deep mid-wicket for a huge six. When Yadav came for his second spell, Tiwary clobbered the pacer over long-on for his third six.

However, Yusuf Pathan's (5, 8 balls) flop-show continued as his tired looking hoick was easily lapped by brother Irfan stationed at long-on off Yadav. KKR's debatable selection Eoin Morgan (0) was the next to go as his aerial shot was gobbled up by Ojha to put Yadav on a hat-trick.

Tiwary finally completed his well deserved half century off 37 balls with a couple of Yadav.

Image: Kolkata Knight Riders' bowler Yusuf Pathan, center, celebrates with fellow team members after he dismissed Delhi Daredevils Travis Brit, unseen, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 28, 2011.