May 14, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 8, 1429

KOLKATA, May 13: A lacklustre performance by their batsmen allowed Delhi Daredevils to restrict Kolkata Knight Riders to a modest total of 133 for six in their Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday.

Electing to bat, the hosts set the Delhi side an asking rate of 6.7 before a crowd of 50 thousand at the Eden Gardens.

Salman Butt (48) was the principal scorer for the home team with the in-form David Hussey (31 of 31 balls) getting moderate success in the slog overs.

Superb bowling performances from Glenn McGrath (4-0-22-0), Yo Mahesh (2-34) and Farveez Maharoof (2-25) ensured the Delhi batsmen got an easily attainable asking rate.

The Knight Riders could never get the momentum going, and only 10 fours came in their innings.

Salman and Aakash Chopra (13) made a sedate start, though the Pakistani left-hander executed several delightful shots square of the wicket and past the cover region.

Chopra, who was dropped by Gautam Gambhir in McGrath’s second over, found it difficult to force the pace, and became the victim of a rather soft dismissal.

The right hand batsman played a casual shot as he tried to loft new ball bowler Pradeep Sangwan and offered a simple catch to Maharoof at mid off.

Saurav Ganguly (7) walked in to loud cheers from the home crowd, and raised hopes of another magical knock as he hit Yo Mahesh for a six by making full use of a free hit, but the end came soon in the same over.

Earlier, Ganguly welcomed Shoaib Akhtar to his playing XI, and then decided to give him a breather, as the hosts batted first.

With the table beginning to get pretty tight up top, both teams, strung together in the middle of the points tally, need to win this one.—Agencies