KOLKATA: Phil Salt’s attacking 68 and bowling figures of 3-16 by Varun Chakravarthy helped Kolkata Knight Riders hammer Delhi Capitals by seven wickets at a hot and humid Eden Gardens in the IPL on Monday.
Chakravarthy, a mystery spinner, led Kolkata’s disciplined bowling to restrict Delhi to 153-9 as players, who remained drenched in sweat, and fans braved the intense heat in the colonial-era capital.
Players from all the 10 IPL teams are keen to impress their national selectors with just one day left for countries to name their teams for the T20 World Cup in June.
The in-form Salt, an England wicketkeeper-batsman, led the chase with an opening stand of 79 with Sunil Narine and the two-time champions reached their target with 3.3 overs to spare.
“It is high-risk but it is also about putting the odds in your favor and not taking the risks you don’t want to,” Salt said of his attacking game.
“You just have to keep backing yourself and keep taking the right options.”
The mercury in the afternoon soared above 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit) for the third time this month, forcing the normally bustling streets to stay empty at noon.
But the sports-mad city witnessed a near-packed house at the 66,000 capacity stadium for the evening game and their home team did not disappoint with their sixth win in nine matches to move closer to booking a play-off spot.
Most of India’s eastern states and southern peninsula have remained under government heatwave alerts since last week, with relief not expected for several more days.
Delhi elected to bat first but lost regular wickets including Prithvi Shaw for 13 and fellow opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, out for 12 off let-arm quick Mitchell Starc.
Skipper Rishabh Pant attempted to resist the slide in his unconvincing knock of 27 before he was dismissed by man of the Chakravarthy.
Chakravarthy rattled the middle and lower-order to make Delhi slip to 111-8 before number nine Kuldeep Yadav claimed an unbeaten 35.
“I think that (batting first) was a good option but as a batting unit, we did not bat well enough. 150 was definitely below par,” said Pant.
“That is part and parcel of cricket. We have a long break ahead, where we can learn from our mistakes.”
Salt, who moved into the top five batsmen this IPL season with 392 runs, put the chase on track along with fellow opener Narine as the two clobbered 23 runs off the first over from Lizaad Williams.
He reached his fourth half-century of the season in 26 balls with a six off Khaleel Ahmed but fell to spinner Axar Patel after his 33-ball knock laced with seven fours and five sixes.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer, who made 33, and Venkatesh Iyer, who hit the winning six in his 23, steered the team home in an unbeaten stand of 57.
The match was a complete contrast to the previous game at the venue when Punjab Kings chased down an IPL record of 262 on another hot day.
Salt, Chakravarthy help Kolkata hammer Delhi in heatwave-hit IPL
https://arab.news/8kjux
Salt, Chakravarthy help Kolkata hammer Delhi in heatwave-hit IPL
- Chakravarthy, a mystery spinner, led Kolkata’s disciplined bowling to restrict Delhi to 153-9
- Iin-form Salt, an England wicketkeeper-batsman, led the chase with an opening stand of 79 with Sunil Narine
Lens have transformed from surprise package to genuine title threat to PSG in Ligue 1
- Lens have gone from surprise frontrunner to genuine challenger
- PSG are off duty because Nantes agreed to postpone their scheduled game on Sunday
PARIS: With nine rounds remaining in Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain still have not managed to shake off Lens in the title race.
Lens have gone from surprise frontrunner to genuine challenger and, with PSG not playing this weekend, coach Pierre Sage’s side can move two points ahead at the top with a win at mid-table Lorient on Saturday.
PSG are off duty because Nantes agreed to postpone their scheduled game on Sunday in order to give PSG better preparation for the Champions League second leg against Chelsea next week.
It seems PSG hardly need it, leading 5-2 from the last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
The decision hardly pleased Nantes fans, who are facing yet another relegation scrap with a third coach this season. Ahmed Kantari was sacked this week and replaced by Vahid Halilhodzic.
Kantari was in charge for just three months. He was hired in mid-December after Nantes fired Luís Castro, who lasted 15 games.
Key matchups
After scraping a narrow win at Toulouse last weekend, Marseille moved back into third place on goal difference from Lyon.
But Marseille’s fans are still angry at facing another trophyless season and coach Habib Beye’s players need a strong performance at home against Auxerre on Friday to appease them.
Monaco are at home to Brest on Saturday and the players are on a roll under attack-minded Belgian coach Sébastien Pocognoli. Monaco have won their past four league games, including impressive away wins against PSG and Lens.
Lyon look to snap a four-game winless streak when they travel to lowly Le Havre and fifth-placed Rennes seek a fifth straight win when they host Lille, with both of those games on Sunday.
Players to watch
Monaco’s turnaround in fortunes have coincided with American forward Folarin Balogun finding form. He looked at his best last Friday against PSG, where his movement and hold-up play stood out, and he has 13 goals overall this season.
Lens winger Florian Thauvin is in fine form after scoring in Ligue 1 and the French Cup last week.
Rémi Himbert has caught the eye on the left side of Lyon’s attack and the 18-year-old forward’s form has earned him a first professional contract until 2028.
Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul looks to add to his 13 league goals this season.
Out of action
Lyon’s goalscoring midfielder Pavel Šulc remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Marseille central defender Nayef Aguerd requires an operation to treat pubalgia — a chronic groin injury problem — which has been troubling the Morocco international for months.
Nice midfielder Everton is expected to miss the rest of the season. The 18-year-old broke into the team this year but suffered a serious ankle injury in training this week.
Off the field
PSG’s Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was grounded in Qatar this week amid the intensifying Iran war.
Flights in and out of the Middle East have been impacted by the Iran war, started by the US and Israel on Feb. 28.
PSG have been bankrolled by Qatari backer QSI since the club’s takeover 15 years ago.
