DELHI: Delhi Daredevils sealed a vital 27-run success against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground to displace the latter from second spot in the Indian Premier League standings on Saturday.

After giving the visitors a target of 187, Delhi bowled out Kolkata for 159 after their skipper Zaheer Khan had dismissed his opposite number Gautam Gambhir in the third over and then accounting for Piyush Chawla who was promoted as pinch-hitter.

Befittingly, Zaheer returned to dismiss last man Umesh Yadav to ensure Delhi second spot on net run-rate.

Robin Uthappa was the lone warrior for Kolkata with 72 from 62 balls (six fours and two sixes)

Zaheer was the standout performer with 3-21, while Carlos Brathwaite too picked up three wickets after scoring a blazing 11-ball 34.

Delhi’s innings revolved around a 105-run partnership between Karun Nair (68) and Sam Billings (54 off 34) after the hosts were reduced to 32-3.

Sunrisers Hyderabad, meanwhile, rode on David Warner’s swashbuckling 92 to register their fourth win in tournament at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium late on Saturday night.

Captain Warner was at the forefront of Hyderabad’s victory yet again, although there were useful contributions from Kane Williamson (50) and Moises Henriques (31) on this occasion. Put into bat, the hosts posted 194-5 and then restricted Virat Kohli’s Bangalore to 179-6.

Needing to score at 9.75 runs per over, Bangalore lost Kohli (14) early in the chase. K.L. Rahul (51) and A.B. de Villiers (42) batted well but Hyderabad were always in control.

Summarised scores:

Delhi Daredevils beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs.

DELHI DAREDEVILS 186-8 in 20 overs (K.K. Nair 68, S.W. Billings 54, C.R. Brathwaite 34; A.D. Russell 3-26, U.T. Yadav 3-33); KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS 159 in 18.3 overs (R.V. Uthappa 72, S.A. Yadav 21; Zaheer Khan 3-21, C.R. Brathwaite 3-47).

Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 15 runs.

SUNRISERS HYDERABAD 194-5 in 20 overs (D.A. Warner 92, K.S. Williamson 50, M.C. Henriques 31 not out; K.W. Richardson 2-45); ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE 179-6 in 20 overs (K.L. Rahul 51, A.B. de Villiers 47, Sachin Baby 37, K.M. Jadhav 25 not out).

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2016