CRICKET WORLD

Delhi Daredevils captain Gautam Gambhir praised the contribution of David Warner and Paul Collingwood to his team's comprehensive 40-run victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

Warner smashed an unbeaten 107 off 69 deliveries and Collingwood, playing his first Indian Premier League game this season, contributed a nicely-paced 53 to a 128-run fourth wicket stand as the Daredevils reached 177 for four after losing three early wickets.

The Knight Riders too suffered early blows, but never recovered and were restricted to 137 for nine as the Daredevils cantered to their fourth win in seven games.

"Warner set this game up for us," Gambhir said.

"He played some incredible shots, he kept the momentum going despite the loss of those early wickets and he gave Collingwood all the time to craft his innings.

"Collingwood is the kind of player that we needed. He contributes with the bat and with the ball and he's a terrific fielder as well.

"In this format you would want a player who can contribute in all three aspects and that's exactly what he did.

"He built a partnership with Warner and we finished with a very good total on this track."

Gambhir also revealed he had expected his bowlers to shine in home conditions.

"We are pretty familiar with this track and we know just how to mix things up on this surface," he said.

"For a visiting team, it is hard to adjust to this kind of a track.

"It is always useful when your bowlers know the conditions and they really did the best today."

Collingwood, who finished the game with a wicket in his only over, also paid tribute to Warner.

"It was a very slow wicket and it offered decent grip for the spinners as well," said the Englishman.

"It was really about trying to build a partnership after those early wickets and trying to get to the 15th over.

"It was fantastic batting with Warner, he takes the pressure of you because he is a strong hitter of the ball and gets plenty of boundaries.

"He played a gem of an innings on a wicket that was pretty difficult to score on."