A stupendous display of power-hitting by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) blew away Delhi Capitals (DC) in Visakhapatnam. Just a few days after the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) registered the highest-ever score in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Knight Riders almost bettered SRH's score. Nevertheless, in what was a memorable night in Visakhapatnam on April 3 (Wednesday), KKR achieved the second-highest total in IPL history, amassing 272/7 over 20 overs.
Chasing a daunting target, the DC batting line-up crumbled and KKR ended up winning the match by a massive margin of 106 runs. As a result, the Knight Riders jumped to the top of the points table with three wins as many matches played while their Net Run Rate (NRR) improved to 2.518.
Sunil Narine destroys DC's bowling attack
The onslaught began right away, with KKR openers Sunil Narine and Phil Salt launching an aggressive start. Although Salt was dismissed early, having made 18 runs from 12 balls, Narine delivered one of the season's most exhilarating performances. The left-handed batter devastated the DC bowling attack, hitting a plethora of remarkable shots. Narine amassed 85 runs from 39 balls, including seven sixes and an equal number of fours, boasting a strike rate of 217.95.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi shines on maiden IPL innings
Making his IPL batting debut, Angkrish Raghuvanshi demonstrated his potential with a compelling performance. The promising young right-hander scored 54 runs off 27 balls, featuring five fours and three sixes.
Andre Russell contributed a rapid 41 runs from 19 balls, which included four fours and three sixes, while Shreyas Iyer chipped in with 18 runs off 11 balls, hitting two sixes.
Rinku Singh then provided the final flourish for KKR, blasting three sixes and a four to notch up 26 runs from just eight balls.
A forgettable night for DC bowlers
Apart from Sumit Kumar, who bowled just two overs, all other DC bowlers conceded more than 10 runs per over. Anrich Nortje conceded 59 runs in 4 four overs and bagged three wickets. Ishant Sharma conceded 43 runs in 3 overs and bagged two wickets. Rasikh Salam was slammed 47 runs in 3 overs while Axar Patel gave away 18 runs in the only over he bowled.
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DC's run chase never got going
Apart from the one over in which Rishabh Pant smashed 28 runs off Venkatesh Iyer's bowling, there was nothing much for the DC fans to cheer about on Wednesday. After DC were reduced to 33/4, Pant and Tristan Stubbs forged a 93-run partnership. Pant recorded his second consecutive half-century while Stubbs fell short of the milestone.
Pant scored 55 runs off 25 balls with the help of four fours and five sixes while Stubbs added 54 runs off 32 balls with the help of four fours and as many sixes. Apart from the contributions from Pant and Stubbs, there was nothing else to show for DC in the batting department. DC were bowled out for 166 runs in 17.2 overs.
For KKR, Vaibhav Arora was the pick of all bowlers as he finished with excellent figures of 3/27 in four overs. Varun Chakaravarthy bagged 3 wickets and conceded 33 runs in his spell of four overs. Mitchell Starc bagged two wickets while Rusell and Narine chipped in with a wicket each.
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