IPL 2017: KKR vs DD, Karun Nair’s direct hit to send back Robin Uthappa is the SK Play of the Match

On a hot evening in Kolkata, the table-toppers, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) took on Delhi Daredevils (DD) in the 32nd match of IPL 2017. After winning the toss Gautam Gambhir asked DD to bat first.

Riding on a brilliant 38-ball 60 from Sanju Samson, the visitors put up a slightly below-par score of 160. However, the hosts chased down the target with almost four overs to spare. Uthappa once again stole the show with a match-winning 52-ball 71. After being dropped early in the innings, the Karnataka batsman smashed the bowlers to all parts of the park and took the game completely away from DD.

Extra Cover: IPL 2017: KKR vs DD, 5 things that went wrong for Delhi Daredevils

Amidst the horror show in the field by the visitors, Karun Nair’s brilliant throw to affect a rampaging Uthappa's run out was the stand-out effort. Though the damage was already done and it didn’t have an impact on the game in the end, the athletic effort was praiseworthy.

Here’s it how it transpired

Off the 2nd ball of the 13th over of KKR’s innings, which was bowled by Corey Anderson, Gambhir guided a back-of-a-length delivery to point and set off for a quick single and Uthappa, the non-striker, was quick to respond. But Nair, positioned at point, attacked the ball, picked it up and fired it at the stumps all in one motion. He had one stump to aim at, and he hit it bang on.

The third umpire was called for but it was a pretty easy decision in the end as Uthappa was a good yard short of his ground.

When the OUT signal popped up on the giant screen Uthappa did look surprised, he must have thought he had made his ground. But, he hadn’t. The wicket-keeper batsman walked off disappointed. However, he had done his job and he knew it.

Except for Nair’s brilliance, DD were clearly poor in the field. Had they taken that easy catch of Uthappa, they could have well managed to defend the score with their power-packed bowling line-up. However, they now find themselves at the bottom of the points table with just two wins in seven games and are in a spot of bother. With games coming up thick and fast, DD need to lift their game if they are to claim a spot in the top four.