Agencies
New Delhi
Kolkata Knight Riders kept their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with a commanding eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals after Finn Allen’s unbeaten century and a clinical spin-bowling display dismantled the hosts at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Friday.
KKR’s spin trio of Anukul Roy (2/31), Sunil Narine (1/17) and Varun Chakravarthy (0/28) choked the Capitals in the middle overs to restrict them to 142 for 8 despite Pathum Nissanka’s 29-ball 50.
Asked to bat, Delhi started briskly through Nissanka and KL Rahul (23), but KKR gradually tightened the screws after the powerplay. Kartik Tyagi and Cameron Green removed Rahul and Nitish Rana in quick succession before Roy struck twice in one over to dismiss Nissanka and Tristan Stubbs, triggering a collapse. Narine also chipped in with the wicket of Sameer Rizvi as Delhi managed only 11 runs in a five-over stretch during the middle phase.
Chasing a modest target, KKR lost Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi early, but Allen ensured there were no further setbacks. The New Zealand batter smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 47 balls, hammering 10 sixes and five fours as KKR raced to 147 for 2 in only 14.2 overs.
The victory was KKR’s fourth successive win and lifted them to seventh place, while DC’s seventh defeat in 11 matches left their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
