(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
AP SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates - Kolkata Knight Riders reached their first Indian Premier League final in seven years with a nervy three-wicket win over last year's finalist Delhi Capitals in the playoffs on Wednesday.
Kolkata lost seven wickets for 40 runs before managing to reach 136-7 after Venkatesh Iyer (55) and Shubman Gill (46) had contributed 96 runs for the opening-wicket stand.
Kagiso Rabada (2-23) and Andrich Nortje (2-31) claimed two wickets each and Ravichandran Ashwin picked up two wickets in the last over before Rahul Tripathi hammered a six to see Kolkata through to their third IPL final.
Kolkata have turned the tide in their favor on the slow pitches of the United Arab Emirates, winning seven of their nine games since the IPL resumed after six months due to the pandemic.
They beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in the eliminator and then adjusted well on the slow and sluggish wicket of Sharjah on Wednesday to restrict Delhi to 135-5.
Two-time champion Kolkata last won the title in 2014 when they beat Punjab Kings in the final.
In a repeat of the 2012 final, Kolkata will meet Chennai Super Kings in Friday's title game.
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