Sheryas Iyer scored an unbeaten 88 off 38 deliveries as the Delhi Capitals beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by 18 runs.

Iyer had no problems smashing a toothless KKR bowling attack to all parts of the ground in an innings that featured seven fours and six sixes.

The 25-year-old shared partnerships with Prithvhi Shaw (66) and Rishabh Pant, whose 38 came off just 18 balls, to set the Capitals an enormous target of 228.

The Capitals’ batting innings got off to a terrible start, losing Sunil Narine for just three. The experiment with him at the top of the order needs revisiting given his chronic struggles.

The dangerous Shubman Gill looked good before being dismissed for 28, leaving Nitish Rana to anchor the innings. He did so expertly until he holed out to the deep midwicket boundary for 58.

Eoin Morgan walked to the crease at 117-4, his side needing 112 runs off 44 deliveries. He, in partnership with Rahul Tripathi, launched a late charge, the England captain hitting Kagiso Rabada for three consecutive sixes in the 18th over – which went for 23 in total – to keep hope alive.

That left KKR needing 31 off the last two overs, one of those which were bowled by Anrich Nortje. The Proteas seamer got the decisive breakthrough, dismissing Morgan for 44 (18) and conceded just five runs from the over, leaving Marcus Stoinis 26 runs to defend, which KKR never got close to.

In Saturday’s early game, Virat Kohli arrested his poor form, scoring 72* to help the Royal Challengers Bangalore to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals.

Kohli, who has endured his worst start in IPL history, looked at his destructive best as he hammered his runs off just 53 deliveries. He shared a 121-run second-wicket partnership with Devdutt Padikkal (63). Kohli was joined by AB de Villiers (12*) to close the match with five balls to spare. The victory takes them to the top of the IPL standings.

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