<div align="justify">Half centuries by Yusuf Pathan and Manish Pandey enabled Kolkata Knight Riders overcome early jitters en route a thrilling four-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils in an Indian Premier League match here today.<br /><br />It was a team effort by KKR, who first rode on Sunil Narine and Nathan Coulter-Nile controlled bowling effort to restrict Delhi to 168 for seven, and then Pathan (59) and Pandey (69 not out) anchored the chase to perfection as they won with a ball to spare.<br /><br />It went down to the wire in the end with KKR needing nine runs from the last over. The first two balls from Amit Mishra resulted in dots as well as a wicket.<br /><br />With the third ball yielding a run, Pandey got to the strike and straight away hit a much-needed six to KKR’s relief. He eventually sealed it off in style with one ball remaining.<br /><br />Chasing a modest 169 for victory , Kolkata lost three quick wickets to be reeling at 21 for three before Pathan and Pandey joined hands to put on a crucial 110-run stand off just 72 balls for the fourth wicket.<br /><br />But after Pathan's dismissal, Daredevils had their chances but KKR managed to have the last laugh.<br /><br />Despite Kolkata struggling at one stage, Pathan dealt in fours and sixes to not just show his batting prowess but keep the team in the hunt.<br /><br />He, in the able company of Pandey, ensured that the Knight Riders were always in the game.<br /><br />Pathan brought up his half-century in style as he hit Delhi skipper Zaheer Khan for a six.<br /><br />The duo slowly and steadily stole the match away from the home team but Pathan failed to finish it for KKR as he fell for a well-made 59 off 39 balls, which included six boundaries and two sixes.<br /><br />Zaheer, on his part, showed that the class is permanent as he finished with figures of two for 28 from his four overs, while Pat Cummins took two for 39.<br /><br />Even after Pathan's departure, Pandey continued and remained unbeaten off 49 balls studded with four fours and three sixes.<br /><br />Earlier, Delhi reached a decent total riding on a late cameo by Rishabh Pant even as Coulter-Nile and Narine managed to restrict the hosts with their superb bowling.<br /><br />Off to a blazing start after opting to bat, Sanju Samson and Sam Billings laid a solid platform for Delhi with a quick 53-run opening stand but after the two got dismissed, KKR bowlers led by Coulter-Nile dominated the middle overs to put a leash on the increasing run-rate.<br /><br />But it was the young Pant, who smashed 38 off 16 balls to take the team past 160-run mark.<br /><br />It was the 17th over bowled by Umesh Yadav, which yielded 26 runs. Pant launched into a furious assault hitting him for three sixes and two fours in that over.<br /><br />Coulter-Nile was the pick of the Kolkata bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of three for 22, while Narine chipped in with economical one for 20.<br /><br />To begin with, Samson took the Kolkata bowlers by the scruff of their necks, and was dealing in boundaries since the very first over.<br /><br />The only centurion of the season so far, Samson made his intentions clear from the very beginning, hitting Coulter-Nile for two back-to-back boundaries, which saw the Daredevils getting off the blocks in the opening over of the match.<br /><br />Billings, ably supported Samson, rotated the strike well besides hitting occasional boundaries.<br /><br />Samson was severe on Umesh as he struck him for three boundaries to set the tone for the Daredevils to reach a competitive total.<br /><br />Umesh was the most expensive of the KKR bowlers with figures of 4-0-53-1.<br /><br />Even the introduction of Kuldeep Yadav and Narine failed to stop Delhi as they cruised to 53 for no loss in the Powerplay overs.<br /><br />The first 10 overs that saw DD reach 83 for 2 with both Samson (39) and Billings (21) being dismissed.<br /><br />It was between overs between 10 to 16 that Delhi managed only 36 runs despite a good start before Pant carried out a redemption act during the end overs. <br /></div>
<div align="justify">Half centuries by Yusuf Pathan and Manish Pandey enabled Kolkata Knight Riders overcome early jitters en route a thrilling four-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils in an Indian Premier League match here today.<br /><br />It was a team effort by KKR, who first rode on Sunil Narine and Nathan Coulter-Nile controlled bowling effort to restrict Delhi to 168 for seven, and then Pathan (59) and Pandey (69 not out) anchored the chase to perfection as they won with a ball to spare.<br /><br />It went down to the wire in the end with KKR needing nine runs from the last over. The first two balls from Amit Mishra resulted in dots as well as a wicket.<br /><br />With the third ball yielding a run, Pandey got to the strike and straight away hit a much-needed six to KKR’s relief. He eventually sealed it off in style with one ball remaining.<br /><br />Chasing a modest 169 for victory , Kolkata lost three quick wickets to be reeling at 21 for three before Pathan and Pandey joined hands to put on a crucial 110-run stand off just 72 balls for the fourth wicket.<br /><br />But after Pathan's dismissal, Daredevils had their chances but KKR managed to have the last laugh.<br /><br />Despite Kolkata struggling at one stage, Pathan dealt in fours and sixes to not just show his batting prowess but keep the team in the hunt.<br /><br />He, in the able company of Pandey, ensured that the Knight Riders were always in the game.<br /><br />Pathan brought up his half-century in style as he hit Delhi skipper Zaheer Khan for a six.<br /><br />The duo slowly and steadily stole the match away from the home team but Pathan failed to finish it for KKR as he fell for a well-made 59 off 39 balls, which included six boundaries and two sixes.<br /><br />Zaheer, on his part, showed that the class is permanent as he finished with figures of two for 28 from his four overs, while Pat Cummins took two for 39.<br /><br />Even after Pathan's departure, Pandey continued and remained unbeaten off 49 balls studded with four fours and three sixes.<br /><br />Earlier, Delhi reached a decent total riding on a late cameo by Rishabh Pant even as Coulter-Nile and Narine managed to restrict the hosts with their superb bowling.<br /><br />Off to a blazing start after opting to bat, Sanju Samson and Sam Billings laid a solid platform for Delhi with a quick 53-run opening stand but after the two got dismissed, KKR bowlers led by Coulter-Nile dominated the middle overs to put a leash on the increasing run-rate.<br /><br />But it was the young Pant, who smashed 38 off 16 balls to take the team past 160-run mark.<br /><br />It was the 17th over bowled by Umesh Yadav, which yielded 26 runs. Pant launched into a furious assault hitting him for three sixes and two fours in that over.<br /><br />Coulter-Nile was the pick of the Kolkata bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of three for 22, while Narine chipped in with economical one for 20.<br /><br />To begin with, Samson took the Kolkata bowlers by the scruff of their necks, and was dealing in boundaries since the very first over.<br /><br />The only centurion of the season so far, Samson made his intentions clear from the very beginning, hitting Coulter-Nile for two back-to-back boundaries, which saw the Daredevils getting off the blocks in the opening over of the match.<br /><br />Billings, ably supported Samson, rotated the strike well besides hitting occasional boundaries.<br /><br />Samson was severe on Umesh as he struck him for three boundaries to set the tone for the Daredevils to reach a competitive total.<br /><br />Umesh was the most expensive of the KKR bowlers with figures of 4-0-53-1.<br /><br />Even the introduction of Kuldeep Yadav and Narine failed to stop Delhi as they cruised to 53 for no loss in the Powerplay overs.<br /><br />The first 10 overs that saw DD reach 83 for 2 with both Samson (39) and Billings (21) being dismissed.<br /><br />It was between overs between 10 to 16 that Delhi managed only 36 runs despite a good start before Pant carried out a redemption act during the end overs. <br /></div>