rounder Irfan Pathan and pace bowler Morne Morkel fashioned Delhi Daredevils' eight-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the second game of the Indian Premier League Thursday. Left-hander Pathan clobbered an unbeaten 42 off 20 deliveries to help Delhi score 100-2 off 11.1 overs after Morkel grabbed 3-18 to restrict Kolkata to 97-9 in a game reduced to 12 overs per side because of rain at Eden Gardens. Delhi openers Aaron Finch (30) and captain Virender Sehwag (20) set up the chase with a 49-run opening stand before both fell in quick succession. Pathan then quelled an increasing asking rate with the help of three well-timed sixes to the leg side. Earlier, the Delhi pace bowlers did not disappoint Sehwag, who decided to bowl first after winning the toss. Morkel struck twice in his very first over when he bowled South African compatriot Jacques Kallis (4) and fringe India batsman Manoj Tiwary (0) off successive yorker-length deliveries. Kallis tried to work the ball down the leg side and was bowled, while Tiwary suffered a first-ball dismissal as he failed to bring down his bat in time and saw his stumps shattered. Morkel also grabbed the important wicket of Kolkata captain Gautam Gambhir (16) just when the left-hander seemed to be leading a recovery. Gambhir tried to run the ball down to third man but managed to deviate it only on to the stumps. Kolkata was 55-6 at one stage but all-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla ensured a fighting total as he smashed 26 off 17 balls with two sixes and a four before being dismissed in the penultimate over. Scores: Delhi Daredevils 100-2 in 11.1 overs (Irfan Pathan 42 not out, Aaron Finch 30) def. Kolkata Knight Riders 97-9 in 12 overs (Laxmi Rattan Shukla 26; Morne Morkel 3-18, Umesh Yadav 2-9, Roelof van der Merwe 2-28).
