Having been compelled to bat first due to losing the toss, Joe Clarke and Michael Pepper provided a quick start with a 40-run partnership before Akif Raja dismissed Pepper in the fifth over. Clarke also departed in the following over, and by the end of the powerplay, the Knight Riders were at 55/2.
Scott Kuggleijn added more pressure by taking the wickets of Alishan Shafu and Sagar Kalyan in the eighth over. Despite resistance from Sam Hain and Laurie Evans against the Capitals’ disciplined bowling attack, both fell midway through the innings, leading to another mini-collapse.
With the Abu Dhabi-based franchise struggling at 111/7, Andre Russell took charge, smashing three fours and as many sixes to score 41 runs off 16 balls before falling to Dushmantha Chameera’s clever delivery in the 18th over. David Willey (26*) briefly accelerated the score to 183/10 before running out of partners.
In response, the Capitals faced an unfavorable start as the Knight Riders’ left-arm bowlers dismantled three-fourths of their top four within the powerplay. David Warner and Sikandar Raza managed only 31 runs for the fourth wicket before Imad Wasim dismissed Raza in the eighth over.
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Subsequently, Rovman Powell and Rahul Chopra also returned to the pavilion, leaving the Capitals struggling at 67/6 after 10.3 overs. Warner, with a 27-ball 42, lacked support from the other end and fell to Wasim in the next over.
Despite a commendable effort from the Capitals’ lower order, adding 83 runs, Jason Holder’s notable 21-ball 42 couldn’t bridge the gap, and the Knight Riders secured a 29-run victory to extend their winning streak.