Yesterday IPL Match Result: Finn Allen's ton fashions 4th straight win for KKR against DC
Kolkata Knight Riders were desperate to see Finn Allen fire, and fire he did at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday night. On a surface that appeared tricky when Delhi Capitals batted, Allen produced an exhibition of clean, fearless strokeplay to smash an unbeaten century and steer Kolkata Knight Riders to an eight-wicket win that kept them firmly in contention for a playoff spot. Knight Riders’ fourth win in succession not only helped them leapfrog the hosts in the IPL standings, but also left Capitals staring at the exit door.
On a pitch where the ball gripped and scoring looked difficult, Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowlers had earlier applied the slow choke on Capitals’ batters to restrict the hosts to 142/8 after opting to bowl. The same strip where Punjab Kings had chased down 265 a couple of weeks ago seemed to have changed character when Capitals batted. However, it had little effect on Allen.
The Knight Riders opener exploded from start to finish, hitting 10 sixes and five fours in his unbeaten 100 off 47 balls. The Kiwi was severe on the spinners but a ramped six off Mitchell Starc was the highlight of the night. Allen was involved in an unbroken 116-run stand for the third wicket with Cameron Green, who made 33 not out off 27 balls, as Knight Riders overhauled the modest target in just 14.
2 overs. The chase had briefly wobbled when Ajinkya Rahane was run out for 13 and Angkrish Raghuvanshi was bowled by Axar Patel for one, leaving KKR at 31/2 in the fourth over. But Allen ensured there was no room for Delhi to build pressure.
He reached his fifty off 32 balls and then shifted gears dramatically. Once he found his range, Capitals’ bowlers had nowhere to hide. Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam came in for heavy punishment, while Starc too was taken apart as Allen turned a potentially awkward chase into a statement win.