NEW DELHI (AP) — Finn Allen’s 47-ball century against Delhi Capitals led Kolkata Knight Riders to their fourth straight win in the Indian Premier League on Friday.
Allen finally struck form this season with an unbeaten 100 including 10 sixes and five boundaries, as Kolkata cruised to 147-2 in 14.2 overs for a thumping eight-wicket win.
Delhi struggled on a slow pitch and was restricted to 142-8 despite opening batters Pathum Nissanka (50) and Lokesh Rahul (23) providing a decent start of 49 in the first five overs.
Allen accidentally ran out fellow opener and captain Ajinkya Rahane when his shot deflected off Mitchell Starc’s hand onto Rahane’s stumps. But Allen made up for it, and rewarded persistence after coming into the game with 110 runs from six games.
The New Zealander reached a half-century off 32 balls and the second fifty off just 15. His batting partner, million dollar signing Cameroon Green, was content to feed Allen the strike and watch the fireworks.
When Kolkata was on the brink of victory and Allen was on 94, Green teed up his teammate who smashed Mukesh Kumar with his 10th six to reach his hundred and clinch the win.
Green was unbeaten on 33 off 27 balls.
Kolkata was up to seventh in the table, three points off the top four.
Delhi was eighth and still mathematically in the playoffs race.
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