Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals are doing well in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2019. Both won close matches and held their nerve on the crunch moments. Thus, the game between both of them was expected to be another close encounter amidst several close games in this year’s IPL. Delhi inserted Punjab to bat first, who got off to a good start as they raced to 54/2 inside the powerplay. David Miller was the highest scorer for KXIP as they managed a below-par score of 166/9 in 20 overs.
In response, Delhi didn’t get the best of starts as they lost their in-form opener Prithvi Shaw on the first ball of their innings. Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer tried to steady the ship and shared 61 runs for the second wicket before the later threw his wicket. Dhawan fell soon as well to Ravichandran Ashwin, who was bowling in good rhythm in this game. Rishabh Pant and Colin Ingram took DC close to the victory but a suicidal collapsed towards resulted in Delhi’s lose by 14 runs.
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Suicidal Hara Kiri by Delhi
Delhi was well on course to win the game as they were required just 23 runs in 21 balls while Rishabh Pant and Colin Ingram were on the crease. Pant threw his wicket in an attempt to send Mohammed Shami for two consecutive sixes. Chris Morris ran himself out on the very next ball. This triggered a massive collapse and Delhi lost their last seven wickets for just eight runs in 17 balls. This has to be the worst batting-collapse in the history of IPL.
Curran sent current down the spine of Delhi’s batting
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Sam Curran is the star of this game. First, he smashed quick-fire 20 runs just 10 balls while opening the batting with KL Rahul. Then he returned with the ball to grab a stunning hat-trick and hand Punjab their third victory of the season. In his last two overs (1.2), he dismissed four batsmen and forced Delhi to taste a bitter defeat. His final bowling figure reads 2.2-0-11-4.
Shami didn’t allow breathing space
Mohammed Shami opened the gat to flood as he dismissed dangerous looking Rishabh Pant in 17th over of the match. Shami kept his line and length tight and gave only seven runs in that over. He came back to bowl the 19th over and rattled the stumps of last distinguished batsman of Delhi’s lineup Hanuma Vihari. He conceded only four runs in that over and gave 15 runs to defend in the final over, which Curran did easily.
