Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Match 51 Match Summary

A cracking weekend awaits - The race for the playoffs is about to get more and more intense as the weekend approaches. Saturday, 9th May, takes us to the Pink City as Rajasthan Royals, who will take the field after a long break, and take on their neighbours, Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium of Jaipur. The first ball of that game is scheduled to be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). But our buildup, as usual, begins well in advance. So mark your presence for that as well. Until then, we sign off, only to meet again the next time. Cheers.

One-sided contest at Kotla - Not a nail-biter by any stretch, but KKR would have preferred a smoother ride nonetheless in this modest run chase. They have a five-day break now before they face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur, on Wednesday, 13th May. As far as the Delhi Capitals are concerned, they have a lot of soul-searching to do before they turn up for their next assignment. They take a trip to Dharamsala to challenge the Punjab Kings on Monday. 11th May and would like to get back to winning ways.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Unarguably, KKR's FINN ALLEN receives the award for his match-winning 100 (47)*. On whether he gave himself a bit more time in the middle, Allen shares that he was working on adding more strengths to his game. He adds that with a couple of early wickets gone, he felt the responsibility to dig in and get the win for the team. On how he paced his innings, Allen details that he simply tried to knuckle down carefully, pointing out that it was still challenging early on with Axar bowling really well and keeping them restricted. He shares that the focus was on getting into strong positions and batting deep. When asked about how he hits so many sixes easily, Allen admits it is something he has been actively working on. Shares that he knew he was getting starts but was unable to convert them. Details that he worked closely with Shane Watson and Abhishek Nayar, giving himself every chance to make it count, and adds that it feels good to finally have a personal success. On how difficult it was to pace an innings like this, Allen says he was simply playing according to the situation. Adds that there are moments where you have to forget about your own batting and focus on what the game demands. On this knock being an innings of comebacks, Allen mentions that sometimes a setback changes your perspective entirely. He admits he was putting a lot of pressure on himself early in the tournament and shares that being left out gave him a chance for a mental refresh.

The captain of Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane says that he is really happy for Finn Allen. He was struggling in the first few games, but kept training hard, and it paid off. Praises his bowlers for their performance. Says the way Narine, Roy, and Varun controlled the middle overs, it was amazing to see. Rahane mentions that he feels lucky as a captain to have bowlers like Narine and Varun. You just have to leave them alone and do their thing. Sunil is someone who is always willing to learn in the sessions and share his experiences and whenever called upon, he is always ready to bowl. Reckons they played well in the first five games, but it is all about winning the small moments. Jinx credits the bowling coaches who have been working very hard with the bowlers. He is happy for Anukul, who had a fine domestic season, and adds that Tyagi is also doing a fine job for them. Says that Varun is fine, as long as he is bowling, he is happy. Ends by saying that they are taking one game at a time.

... Time for the post-match Presentation ...

KKR's star all-rounder - Cameron Green calls Allen's knock something truly special, adding that his own job was made easy at the other end. He shares that he was simply playing second fiddle throughout. On the chat between the two during the partnership, Green laughs and says there was not much to it, just talking about seeing each other at the end of the over. About whether they were calculating towards the end to get Allen to his hundred, Green admits the calculations did start, though he clarifies it was him doing the math rather than both of them. He adds with a smile that he will give Allen full credit for getting there. On the most pleasing aspect of the night, Green says winning is the obvious answer and that it has been thoroughly satisfying. Points to the bowlers performing well throughout the competition, singling out Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy as particularly impressive, adding that the rest of the group are just chipping in around them. On whether things are falling into place for a playoff push, Green admits you simply cannot look that far ahead. He adds that the focus is on winning every game, one at a time, and nothing beyond that.

The captain of Delhi Capitals - Axar Patel says that they were short of runs, but the spinners also did not execute their plans well. Adds that they lost around 5 wickets in 5 overs while batting, that's where they lost the momentum. Mentions that when he and Ashutosh were batting, they thought to just take time as it was not easy to bat for the new batters and the others also need to apply this when wickets fall in clusters. Says that they will go back and plan on how to go about things in the upcoming games, and give some of the players on the bench a chance.

Spinners script KKR's control - The mystery surrounding this surface was flagged at the pitch report, and it lived up to the billing. Decent for batting early, it gradually turned into a paradise for slower bowlers and pacers with variations. Pathum Nissanka gave Delhi a flying start with a fluent half-century, but KKR's spinners took a stranglehold through the middle overs, choking the scoring and picking up regular wickets in the middle phase. Axar Patel and Ashutosh Sharma attempted a rebuild but found boundaries hard to come by. Ashutosh did manage to break free momentarily, taking Varun Chakaravarthy for 16 in one over, but Tyagi shut the door with a miserly three-run 20th over. A largely disciplined effort from Kolkata, with their spinners doing the heavy lifting right through the middle.

The difference maker - KKR's spinners kept the batters on a leash with controlled lines and lengths through the middle overs, while DC's spinners, the likes of Kuldeep and Vipraj, offered far too many slot and short balls, that Allen punished at will and ease. That contrast in the middle phase ultimately proved to be the difference. KKR were tight and disciplined between overs 7 and 15, while DC leaked runs, lacked penetration and never quite managed to build any meaningful pressure.

The Finn Allen show - Two strange dismissals threatened to derail KKR's chase of a modest total. Rahane had given them a bright start before being run out at the non-striker's end, and Raghuvanshi never spotted the ball trickling back into his stumps off an attempted sweep. Just like that, the pressure landed squarely on Allen and Green. The two responded with composure, allying for an unbeaten 116-run stand that steadied the ship and put the game to bed far early. Allen, with 2 needed, smashed a six to complete his century and finished things off in a poetic way.

Dreams fading gradually - Things have gotten increasingly complicated for the Delhi Capitals now. A seventh defeat sends them sliding down to eighth in the standings, and the road ahead looks anything but straightforward. They started the tournament decently enough, but the last six matches have been a complete downward spiral, managing just the one win in that stretch. They have three games left, and winning all of them is now a non-negotiable for them. And even if they do manage to win, they will surely need favors from the other teams as well.

KKR stroll past DC at Kotla - Smiles all around in the KKR camp, and why not? Finn Allen took it upon himself to get the job done, and he did it in some style. FYI, he was 20 off 17 balls at one stage. In the next 30 balls, he smashed 80 runs, which included an effortless display of six-hitting. This is KKR's fourth consecutive win, and they are making a serious late charge in the tournament, now pretty much visible in the rearview mirror of the teams at the top. Of course, still a long way to go for them but this has been some comeback.

SIX! HUNDRED FOR FINN ALLEN! He finishes the game off in style and, in doing so, gets to an incredible 47-ball century. Mukesh Kumar bangs this into the pitch, on middle, Allen gets on top of the bounce and whacks it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. All smiles in the Kolkata camp, with everyone appreciating Allen's knock, even the DC players. KKR WIN BY 8 WICKETS, with 34 balls to spare!

Back of a length and around leg, Cameron Green nudges it through square leg for a single. Allen gets another chance to reach his century. KKR 2 runs away from the win!

Possibly the last over of the match then. KKR need just 3 runs to win. Allen, who is off strike, needs 6 to get to his century. Mukesh Kumar is introduced into the attack.

He tries it but fails to execute it! Shortish and around middle, Finn Allen rocks back to pull it away but gets a toe-end it down the pitch. That ball was there to be hit.

SIX! Up, up and away! Flighted, full and on middle, turns in again. Finn Allen gets down on one knee again, hits it with the spin and dismisses it out of his presence over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen more. KKR are one hit away from the win, Allen is one hit away from his ton. Can he get it?

Short again and on middle, turns in sharply, Finn Allen swings across the line but gets another inside edge, this time wide of short fine for a brace. KKR need just 9 runs to win now!

Flatter, short and on middle, turns in, Finn Allen moves back to clip it but gets an inside edge towards square leg.

SIX! The six-hitting show continues from the Kiwi! A wrong'un, fuller and outside off, turns away too. Finn Allen gets down on one knee, extends his arms to reach out for it and dispatches it over the long off fence for a biggie.

Floated, short and around leg, Cameron Green stays back and flicks it to deep square leg for a single.

A smidge shorter, on middle and leg. Green plays with soft hands and tucks it in the vacant square leg region for another run. A very expensive over from Nigam. 21 runs from it. KKR need just 18 runs from 42 balls.

Dropped short, on middle. Allen camps back and punches it along the ground to long off for an easy single.

SIX! A hat trick of sixes and Allen continues to torment the DC spinners. Nigam now bowls it full, around off. Finn Allen uses his reach to his benefit and smokes it downtown for a massive six. He moves to 79 (40).

SIX! He is in a hurry now! Way too short, on middle. Finn Allen, reads the googly, uses the depth of the crease and nails the pull shot into the stands behind deep mid-wicket for a six.

SIX! MONSTROUS HIT! A friendly half volley from Vipraj, on off. Finn Allen gets down on a knee, and launches it handsomely over the long off fence for a huge six.

A flipper, short on leg. Cameron Green hangs back and heaves it to widish long on for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav continues to be expensive for DC. Here is Vipraj Nigam to bowl now.

Tossed up, leg break on middle. Cameron Green gets on the front foot and eases it into the long off region for an easy single.

Keeps it outside off, flat and short. Allen punches the googly to mid off. The fielder dives to that direction but parries the ball to the deep for a single.