Finn Allen delivered an outstanding performance as Kolkata Knight Riders cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2026 encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Friday. Chasing a target of 143, Allen hammered an unbeaten century off just 47 deliveries, striking five boundaries and 10 maximums, guiding KKR to victory in just 14.2 overs. Earlier in the match, Pathum Nissanka registered a half-century while Ashutosh Sharma contributed 39 runs as DC managed 142 for 8 after being asked to bat first. KL Rahul and Nissanka built an explosive 49-run opening partnership. Rahul departed for 23, whereas Nissanka continued to blast his fifty (50 from 29 deliveries). After the Sri Lankan’s dismissal, DC collapsed dramatically. Ashutosh Sharma’s explosive knock (39 from 28) provided Delhi with some hope. KKR smashes opponents with Allen’s century & maintains playoff hopes.
TOSS
Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and elected to bowl first.
PLAYING XI
Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI):
Ajinkya Rahane(c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy
Delhi Capitals (Playing XI):
Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul(w), Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel(c), Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi, Mukesh Kumar
DELHI CAPITALS
On a pitch where Punjab Kings had successfully chased 264 just weeks earlier, expectations were high for another run-fest initially, though stroke-play proved challenging. Delhi Capitals, starting their bowling with Anukul Roy, quickly discovered this as Pathum Nissanka attacked him from the outset, beginning with a pull shot off a short delivery for four. Even Sunil Narine was hammered for 11 runs in his opening over as boundaries flowed primarily straight and through the leg side. Everything appeared smooth for the opening pair until the final delivery of the fifth over, when KL Rahul failed to read a slower ball and mistimed an inside-out stroke, concluding their partnership at 49.
Briefly, DC seemed in command, particularly given Nissanka’s ability to find the boundary rope consistently. He flicked Vaibhav Arora’s delivery off his legs, guided Varun Chakaravarthy through third man, and launched Cameron Green’s ball over the boundary. Nevertheless, while Nissanka was building toward his fifty, Nitish Rana struggled badly, showing early signs of difficulty against spin bowling. Rana was deceived by Green’s slower ball and chipped it to short fine leg. Despite this, after 8 overs, DC appeared reasonably positioned at 74 for 2.
During the following six overs, Ankul, Narine, and Chakaravarthy delivered two overs each, collectively allowing just 18 runs while claiming three scalps: Sameer Rizvi slog-sweeping to deep midwicket, Nissanka getting stumped off a wide delivery, and Tristan Stubbs being bowled, completely derailing the innings.
This time, unlike their previous match, DC avoided bringing in an extra batsman as Impact Sub, allowing Ashutosh Sharma and Axar Patel to take a more careful approach. Ashutosh survived a tight LBW appeal in the 16th over, but all momentum had vanished. After 98 deliveries, they were struggling with only 101 runs scored.
Axar Patel’s batting struggles persisted. He never achieved any rhythm. However, Ashutosh received several quick balls consecutively from Chakaravarthy, enabling the ball to come onto the bat nicely and be dispatched effortlessly. The spinner leaked 16 runs from the final four balls of the 17th over, providing some vital impetus in the closing stages.
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS
Initially, there was considerable optimism and the comfort of pursuing a manageable target. Finn Allen and Ajinkya Rahane were methodical in their approach, patiently waiting to capitalize on scoring chances. They had smoothly progressed to 29 by the penultimate delivery of the third over when Allen’s straight drive resulted in Rahane being run out at the bowler’s end.
That wicket caused a temporary deceleration, threatening to complicate KKR’s pursuit more than anticipated. Angkrish Raghuvanshi completely misjudged the ball while trying to sweep Axar and was bowled as the ball deflected onto the stumps via his gloves. With Axar completing three overs during the Powerplay, Allen and Green adopted a careful strategy. Allen struggled to a 17-ball 20 by the Powerplay’s conclusion, while Green was equally sluggish at that stage, managing just 9 from 7 deliveries.
Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav had no refuge against their assault. When they bowled full, the batsmen drove them straight. When they dropped short, they were quickly pulled. It started with Allen attacking Nigam in the seventh over for a four and six, continuing against Kuldeep next over. Stubbs couldn’t complete a catch at long-on despite diving forward. Allen reached his fifty on the opening ball of the 11th over by moving across and easily ramping Mitchell Starc for six.
The Australian all-rounder took time to find his rhythm and was restricted, particularly by Axar in his final over. He had moved steadily to 21 from 21 balls before beginning to take risks. This started by pulling Kuldeep’s short ball for six in the 12th over, then becoming a spectator to Allen’s six-hitting spree from the opposite end. He even took a single off the first ball of the 15th over to give Allen, sitting on 94, an opportunity for his century. The New Zealand opener seized that chance and smashed his 10th six of the innings to seal victory.
Brief Scores:
Delhi Capitals 142/8 in 20 overs [Pathum Nissanka 50 (29), Ashutosh Sharma 39 (28); Sunil Narine 1-17, Kartik Tyagi 2-25, Anukul Roy 2-31) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 147/2 in 14.2 overs [Finn Allen 100* (47), Cameron Green 33* (27); Axar Patel 1-27] by 8 wickets.
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