IPL 2023 KKR vs DC: Bowlers shine as 4-wicket win over Kolkata helps Delhi Capitals lose the 5-match losing streak, Ishant Sharma marks his return

IPL 2023 KKR vs DC: Skipper David Warner found his perfect hitting arc after Ishant Sharma rolled back the years but even then Delhi Capitals stuttered badly in a modest chase before beating Kolkata Knight Riders by four wickets on Thursday to stay afloat in this edition of the IPL.

With their backs to the wall after five defeats on the trot, the DC bowling line-up collectively came to the party as KKR managed only 127 on a spicy deck which aided both pacers and spinners alike. 

IPL 2023 KKR vs DC: Capital secure their first points of the tournament

Delhi Capitals skipper David Warner won the toss and opted to bowl first against the Kolkata Knight Riders in a rain delayed match at the Arun jaitley Stadium on Thursday.

England’s Jason Roy top scored with 43 and Andre Russell exploded near the end with 38 as Kolkata Knight Riders trudged to 127 in 20 overs against Delhi Capitals. Except for Roy, Russell and Mandeep Singh (12), no other KKR batter reached double figures.

Delhi bowlers were on song throughout as Ishant Sharma, Anrich Nortje, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel all took 2 wickets each. It was a great return to the Indian Premier League for Ishant Sharma who was subbed out immediately after bowling his quota of overs who managed to scalp 2 KKR batters at the cost of 19 runs.

Another failed outing for Prithvi Shaw, Warner scores 4th IPL 2023 Fifty

Prithvi Shaw, Warner’s opening partner, had another disappointing game. He fell to Varun Chakravarthy after hitting the KKR spinner for a boundary off his first ball. However, that did nothing to deter Warner who continued to be ruthless in his approach as DC raced away to 61 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay.

Delhi Capitals lost Mitchell Marsh to Nitish Rana and Phil Salt to Anukul Roy in back-to-back overs but with David Warner in complete control, the hosts had little to worry about. Warner, DC’s best batter this season, was struggling with his strike-rate in earlier games but on Thursday, he smashed 57 off 41.

Delhi Capitals were cruising along at 93 for 3 before KKR’s part-time spinners Anukul Roy and Nitish Rana and strike bowler Varun Chakaravarthy reduced them to 111 for 6. David Warner’s dismissal in the 14th over triggered a collapse before Axar Patel and Lalit Yadav held their nerves to get DC over the line.

Gutsy Patel does the job for Capitals

Nerves of steel from Axar Patel as he survived, fought and stayed till the end despite the groin strain to take his team home as Delhi beats Kolkata by 4 wickets. A relieved DC camp as they notch the first points on the board and this will be a special win. Khejroliya was tasked with a job to defend seven runs from the final over but a couple from the first two balls followed by a no-ball made the work light for Axar who hit the winning shot.

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