Dhawan's Fluent Innings Headlines Delhi Capitals' Facile Win

Shubman Gill conjures up a delightful knock; Kolkata Knight Riders slumps to its second straight defeat

- Y.B. Sarangi

Shikhar Dhawan in full flow is a treat to watch. The southpaw played one of his best T20 knocks, an unbeaten 63ball 97, as he guided Delhi Capitals to a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens here on Friday.

DC restricted KKR to 178 for seven, after inserting the host, and achieved the target with seven balls to spare. It maintained a clean slate against the Dinesh Karthik led side this season as it recorded its fourth win.

Dhawan’s brilliance fetched DC a strong start. Relying on his exceptional timing and placement, the lefthander, who hit 11 fours and two sixes, drove fluently on both sides apart from cutting and flicking the KKR bowlers with confidence.

Off to a flier

Dhawan set the tone by plundering two sixes, through upper cuts, and a four off Prasidh Krishna in the third over. He then hit Russell for three fours in the next to make his intentions clear.

Even as DC lost Prithvi Shaw and Shreyas Iyer to fine catches by Karthik, a fully-focused Dhawan never allowed KKR get any substantial gain.

Dhawan, who bettered his previous highest score of 95 not out, partnered Rishabh Pant (46 off31), who played a comparatively quiet knock, for crucial 105 runs to make DC’s journey smooth.