Shoaib’s sensational bowling tumbles Daredevils

Battered by the Rawalpindi Express, who picked up four wickets in his first three overs, the visitors were skittled out for 110 of 17.5 overs, in reply to the Kolkata Knight Riders' modest total of 133 for 6 at the Eden Gardens.

Akhtar, adjudged fit for the match only a few hours ago, matched up to the high expectations, claiming wickets in each of his first three overs, with his victims including the dreaded Delhi opening combination of skipper Virender Sehwag (0) and Gautam Gambhir (10).

Akhtar, playing at his favourite ground where he made his debut in 1999 during the Asian Test championship, finished with brilliant figures of 3-0-11-4 to walk away with the man of the match award.

Akhtar sent back Sehwag in the second ball of the innings, as the Prince of Najafgarh failed to negotiate a fast outswinger, managing only an outside edge to the wicket keeper.

Drumming up a fierce pace, Akhtar then accounted for Gambhir in his second over with a short-pitched ball, which the in-form batsman played straight to David Hussey at backward point, as Delhi were reduced to 17 for 2.

There was more Akhtar magic in the next over as he poured his heart out to deal twin blows to be on a hat trick, as the Daredevils were tottering at 28 for 4.

First A B de Villiers (7) top edged to Tatenda Taibu at square leg, while the next delivery angled in sharply found Manoj Tiwary (9) plumb before the stumps. Tilakratne Dilshan, however, averted the hat-trick.

Akhtar, who flew into the city last week after the Pakistan Cricket Board suspended for a month a five year ban slapped on him, seemed on song, and the effect was electric.

Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah rukh Khan was seen rushing towards the boundary line exuberantly as the gallery erupted in wild jubilation.

Inspired by the Akhtar, Ashok Dinda then castled Shikhar Dhawan (7) as the visitors had half their side back into the pavilion with only 43 on the board in 7.3 overs.

Though the asking...