Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) comfortably beat Delhi Daredevils (DD) in their opening match of IPL 2018 at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium (Mohali, Chandigarh). While DD had a score of 166/7 at the end of 20 overs, KXIP chased down that target in 18.5 balls after losing 4 wickets only.
KXIP decided to bowl first after winning the toss.
While the DD skipper Gautam Gambhir was holding one side, other top-order batsmen couldn’t provide enough support for him. Later Rishabh Pant and Chris Morris added some quick runs that helped DD to put a fighting total on the board.
While Gambhir scored 55 runs off 42 balls, Pant had a quick 28-runs knock off just 13 balls and Morris was not out for 27 runs off 16 balls. They are the only three batsmen who crossed the 20-run mark in that innings as Delhi was able to put 166 runs (166/7) on the board at the end of 20 overs.
Among the KXIP bowlers, IPL debutant Mujeeb Ur Rahman, the Afghan sensation, was the best bowler with the figure of 4-0-28-2. Also, Mohit Sharma (2/33) picked up 2 wickets while skipper Ravichandran Ashwin (1/23) and Axar Patel (1/35) picked up one wicket each.
Chasing down the target, KXIP opener KL Rahul played a blasted knock as he hit the fastest IPL half-century. He completed the half-century in just 14 balls as he broke the previous records of 15-ball half-century by Sunil Narine and Yusuf Pathan (both once). That innings set the tone for his team.
After Rahul’s dismissal on 51 runs off just 16 balls, Karun Nair took the job to maintain that momentum. Nair also completed his half-century as he was dismissed on 50 off 33 balls.
David Miller and Marcus Stoinis finished the job for the team as KXIP won their opening match in this season by 6 wickets with 7 balls to spare. In the end, Miller was not out on 24 runs (23 balls) and Stoinis was batting on 22 runs (15 balls).
Among the DD bowlers, Trent Boult (1/34), Chris Morris (1/25), Daniel Christian (1/12) and Rahul Tewatia (1/24) claimed one wicket each.
Now, we will look at some interesting tweets
On KXIP’s victory
That's it from Mohali as the @lionsdenkxip win their first home game by six wickets.#KXIPvDD pic.twitter.com/9ou08PHVRD
— manish saxena (@manishmbd) April 8, 2018
Preity Zinta co-owned KXIP beat Delhi Daredevils by 6 wickets #IPL2018 #DDvKXIP #KXIPvDD pic.twitter.com/QmicwVSwoI
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) April 8, 2018
On KL Rahul’s fastest 50 knock
https://twitter.com/AzharAdeelMalik/status/982986236355891200
KL Rahul – Man of the Match (Fastest 50 of IPL, just in 14 balls)#IPL #KXIPvDD pic.twitter.com/AnWbF0odzz
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) April 8, 2018
KL Rahul's new record for fastest fifty in IPL T20 format… records breaking fest is on.😍🎊❤#KXIPvDD
— ÄŠH (@chal_koi_ni_yrr) April 8, 2018
On Gautam Gambhir’s half-century
https://twitter.com/SirShewag/status/982950766460583937
Good start for #Gambhir today , hope he continues to retain the same form throughout this season #KXIPvDD
— Rohit Venkataraman (@RohitvNiranjan) April 8, 2018
It’s a sheer pleasure to watch this guy’s knock, Captian on Fire. #Gambhir #DDvKXIP #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/Tntuqx5GLQ
— Aru ! (@MindOfAravind) April 8, 2018
Some interesting others
https://twitter.com/Nik59067/status/982985779264843777
DD's IPL opening matches in last six seasons:
Lost,
Lost,
Lost,
Lost,
Lost,
Lost#KXIPvDD— Cricbuzz (@FaaST_CricBuzz) April 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/Aditya_k168/status/982983865311444992
Got that right, KXIP won. KL Rahul's flashing fast half century is definitely the talking point of this game. Karun Nair showing continuing his form is really a good sign for Punjab. #KXIPvDD #IPL2018
— O’Range #OrangeArmy 🟠⚫️ (@ichipaddd) April 8, 2018
Woaaaaahhhhhh ! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻#RCB Will Miss #KLRahul n #KKR Will Miss #Gambhir
🙊🙈🙊 pic.twitter.com/y2UFDJhCJC— Dr Khushboo 🇮🇳 (@khushbookadri) April 8, 2018
abhi Gambhir ke #50 ka jashan khaym b nahin hua tha ki, #KLRahul ne mood kharab kar diya…
God save Dilli🙏#IPL2018 #IPL #KXIPvDD #DD #GG #Gambhir #dilli_ka_kaptaan #YuvrajSingh #DelhiDaredevils #IPL2018OnStar #KKRvsRCB— Dare to Truth_ JNU (@DareToTruth_jnu) April 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/ManoharReddy94/status/982963425553760257
https://twitter.com/kor_singh/status/982966433012305920
