Brutal Allen hundred leads KKR to win over Delhi

[Reuters]

New Zealander Finn Allen hit a brutal 47-ball century to lead Kolkata Knight Riders to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals and boost his side's unlikely push towards the Indian Premier League play-offs.

By hitting the winning runs with a six, Allen finished exactly 100 not out as KKR completed a chase of 143 with 5.4 overs to spare.

He had 18 from 20 balls and, having been dropped on 42 by Tristan Stubbs, was on 45 from 31.

At that stage KKR were 75-2 after 10 overs but Allen, who scored 33-ball hundred in this year's T20 World Cup semi-final, hit eight of his remaining 16 balls for six.

Fifty-five of KKR's remaining 72 runs came off his bat, while the right-hander also scored 83 runs in an unbroken stand of 116 with Australia Cameron Green, who finished 33 not out.

Allen is only the fourth KKR player to score an IPL century, following West Indian Sunil Narine, India's Venkatesh Iyer and fellow New Zealander Brendon McCullum.

Delhi, meanwhile, were strangely meek with the bat.

They were 74-1 in the eighth over but managed only 142-8, taking only 11 runs in five overs from the 12th to 16th despite not losing a wicket.

Delhi drop to eighth in the table on eight points and are struggling to make the play-offs with three games to go.

KKR were winless across their first six matches but have now won four in a row.

They have nine points in seventh - three fewer than Royal Challengers Benglauru, Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans who are third, fourth and fifth respectively.

• IPL table