Gambhir made his 35th IPL fifty

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir and wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa struck 71 not out and 59 respectively to lead their side to a seven-wicket win over the Delhi Daredevils.

Being put in to bat first, the Daredevils got off to a brisk start before opener Karun Nair was trapped lbw off the bowling of Sunil Narine for 15.

Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer kept the scoreboard ticking with a 75-run partnership, during which Samson brought up his fifty.

However, he was unable to make the most of it as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Umesh Yadav for 60 off 38 balls, which included four boundaries and three sixes.

Samson’s sixth IPL fifty was not enough to see his side to victory

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Following Samson’s dismissal, the Daredevils lost wickets in a hurry, including that of Iyer, who made 47.

As a result, they went from 123/2 in the 14th over to finishing on 160/6 at the end of their 20 overs.

Nathan Coulter-Nile was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Yadav and Narine chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Chasing 161 to win, the Knight Riders lost Narine on the eighth ball of the innings as he was clean bowled by Kagiso Rabada for four runs.

Gambhir and Uthappa made up for the loss of Narine with a 108-run stand, during which Uthappa surpassed his fifty, before he was run out by Nair for 59 off 33 balls, which included five boundaries and four sixes.

Uthappa scored his 21st IPL fifty

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Even though Manish Pandey fell to Rabada shortly after, the Knight Riders reached their target with 22 balls to spare thanks to Gambhir’s unbeaten 71, which came off 52 deliveries and included 11 boundaries.

Rabada was the only bowler to take any wickets.

Gambhir was named Man of the Match.