Finn Allen delivered one of the most explosive innings of IPL 2026 as Kolkata Knight Riders stormed to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Friday.
Chasing a modest target of 143, Allen unleashed a brutal assault on the DC bowling attack, smashing an unbeaten century off just 47 balls. The New Zealand batter lit up the evening with a sensational display of power-hitting, hammering five boundaries and 10 towering sixes as KKR completed the chase in only 14.2 overs.
Allen’s innings completely overshadowed Delhi Capitals’ efforts with the bat and ensured Kolkata cruised to victory with ease. His aggressive approach from the start never allowed DC bowlers to settle, turning what could have been a competitive chase into a one-sided contest.
Earlier in the evening, Delhi Capitals struggled to build momentum despite promising starts from KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka. After being invited to bat first, DC got off to a brisk start as Rahul and Nissanka stitched together a quickfire 49-run opening partnership.
KL Rahul looked fluent during his brief stay at the crease, scoring 23 runs off 14 balls with four boundaries before departing. Nissanka, however, continued to anchor the innings aggressively and brought up an entertaining half-century.
The Sri Lankan opener scored 50 runs off just 29 deliveries, mixing elegant strokeplay with attacking intent to keep Delhi Capitals in a strong position during the powerplay overs.
However, once Nissanka was dismissed, Delhi Capitals suffered a dramatic collapse. The middle order failed to capitalise on the solid platform laid by the openers as wickets fell at regular intervals.
KKR’s bowlers tightened their grip on the game through disciplined spells and clever variations, restricting Delhi to 142 for 8 in their 20 overs.
Ashutosh Sharma provided some resistance lower down the order with a fighting knock of 39 runs from 28 balls. His cameo helped DC cross the 140-run mark and gave the home side a total to defend, but it ultimately proved far from enough against Allen’s extraordinary batting display.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ emphatic win further boosts their campaign in IPL 2026, while Delhi Capitals will be left searching for answers after another disappointing performance with the ball and middle-order batting.