DC vs KKR: Dinesh Karthik reprimanded for breaching IPL Code of Conduct

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik was fined for breaching the Indian Premier League's (IPL) Code of Conduct during his team's Qualifier 2 against Delhi Capitals at Sharjah on Wednesday.

"Karthik admitted to the Level 1 offence 2.2 of the IPL's Code of Conduct and accepted the sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding," read an official statement from IPL.

Kolkata overhauled the 136-run target in 19.5 overs after nearly squandering the solid foundation led down by their openers on a challenging Sharjah pitch.

DC vs KKR, Qualifier 2, IPL 2021: Highlights | Report

Delhi huffed and puffed to post a below-par 135/5 and was all but out when Kolkata raced to 96/0 in 12.1 overs but after then, the Eoin Morgan-led side lost six wickets for the addition of just seven runs. The contest turned on its head before Rahul Tripathi sealed the deal with a six-off Ashwin on the penultimate delivery of the match.

KKR were cruising at 123 for 1 in 15.5 overs but from there on they suffered a stunning batting collapse.

Nitish Rana (13) was out in the last ball of the 16th over and he was followed by Gill four balls later. Still, there was no panic in the KKR camp before Dinesh Kartik's (0) dismissal in the final ball of the 18th over sent alarm bells.

KKR needed 10 runs from the last two overs but Anrich Nortje removed KKR captain Eoin Morgan (0) with the final ball of the 19th over, leaving KKR seven runs to get from the final over.

Shakib Al Hasan (0) and Sunil Narine (0) were then removed in the third and fourth balls before Tripathi hit a six-off Ashwin in the fifth ball to help KKR notch up a stunning win in the end.

This will be KKR's third final appearance after winning the title in 2012 and 2014. They had just about managed to sneak into the play-offs at the expense of five-time defending champions Mumbai Indians, thanks to their better net run rate.