IPL 2019, KKR vs DC: Shubman Gill, Andre Russell guide Kolkata Knight Riders to 178/7 against Delhi Capitals

Shubman Gill notched up his highest score and Andre Russell scored quickfire 45 off 21 balls to guide Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to 178/7 against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 26th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday. (IPL 2019, KKR vs DC: FOLLOW LATEST UPDATES)

DC enjoyed a brilliant start after opting to bowl as Ishant Sharma struck on the first ball, disturbing the timber, to dismiss debutant Joe Denly for a duck.

However, Shubman Gill and Robin Uthappa did not bog down as KKR crossed the fifty-run mark in the seventh over, with the former scoring at a brisk pace than his experienced colleague.

Just when it looked that the two were looking to consolidate, Kagiso Rabada gave DC their second breakthrough as he dismissed Uthappa for 28 in the ninth over. While Keemo Paul went for runs, Rabada and Axar Patel kept the things tight for DC, with KKR managing to score only 72 runs from the first ten overs. (ALSO READ: IPL 2019: What to expect from Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals?)

Nitish Rana too failed to do much and could score only 11 as Chris Morris’ yorker ended his innings. Rana’s departure brought Andre Russell into the middle and the effect was there to see immediately as he and Gill, who opened the innings tonight, brought up his second IPL fifty tried to up the ante scoring 16 runs off the 14^th over bowled by Axar.

However, DC struck back with two quick wickets as Paul dismissed Gill for 68, his best IPL score, and Rabada removed KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik for two. Russell, though, did not let that affect him much. As he, despite the pain in his right hand, went after DC bowlers, including Rabada as KKR brought up their 150 in the 18^th over.

Morris though denied Russell his fifty as the big-hitting Jamaican got out in the 19^th over, caught in the deep by Rabada, for 45 off 21 balls.

While Carlos Brathwaite could not offer much with the bat, Piyush Chawla hit a brisk 14 off 6 balls to push KKR to 178/7.

Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 178/7 (Shubman Gill 65, Andre Russell 45; Chris Morris 2/38) vs Delhi Capitals