Knight Riders make finals with play-off win

Pune: Kolkata Knight Riders made their maiden entry into the final of IPL V when they beat the mighty Delhi Daredevils by 18 runs in the play-off match yesterday.

After having scored a challenging 162 for four wickets off 20 overs, the Kolkata bowlers never really allowed the powerful Delhi batting line-up a serious chase as they ended at 144 for eight wickets. Virender Sehwag's men will get another shot at the final berth when they take on the winners of the eliminator between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians today.

It was good fight between the two IPL heavyweights as the Delhi bowlers struck regularly to almost make it look like a no-contest but Pathan's 21-ball 40 and Shukla's 24 off 11 balls gave Kolkata a fightable total on the board. The top three KKR batsmen — Gautam Gambhir (32), Brendon McCullum (31) and Jacques Kallis (30) batted well but could not convert the starts into big knocks.

KKR were 106 for four in 16 overs after electing to bat but Pathan and Shukla came out guns blazing as they scored 56 runs in the last four overs. Gambhir led the side to a decent start as he smashed 32 off just 16 balls before a tragic run out ended his partnership with McCullum. Things were not going Delhi's way as Gambhir continued with his red-hot form. He hit Umesh Yadav for a six in the second over and also hit Varun Aaron for a six and four. However, a direct hit from Venugopal Rao, when Gambhir went explored a non-existent single, ended his knock. It was Gambhir who was scoring fast as McCullum relied more on ones and twos. His stay at the crease was almost close to ten overs but the Kiwi could find only two boundaries. Left-arm spinner Pawan Negi was getting sharp turn from the pitch and he troubled both McCullum and Jacques Kallis. He bowled brilliant three overs initially and gave away 11 runs. The only blemish was a six McCullum hit off him but the spinner had the last laugh as he got the Kiwi two balls later. Kallis was meanwhile dropped by Pathan off his own bowling. KKR suffered another blow when Pathan had Shakib Al Hassan caught behind. KKR were struggling as they were 99 for three in 15 overs. Their big hope was Kallis but the South African too departed when he was caught at deep mid-wicket off Yadav. Yousuf Pathan lifted the gloom by hitting Morne Morkel for a six.

Brief Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 162/4 off 20 overs (Y.Pathan 40 n.o.; G.Gambhir 32, B.McCullum 31) vs Delhi Daredevils 144/8 off 20 overs (M.Jayawardene 40).