By Our Special Correspondent
For all the bravado and aggressiveness Punjab Kings batting line-up possesses, their game against spin has been a flip-flop in their last seven matches of IPL 2022. But when it comes to Delhi Capitals, there is just one way: Downwards.
Two such teams — Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings — were in action at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Monday. Hence, this clash was looked upon with huge interest. In the earlier clash between these two teams at Brabourne Stadium, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Lalit Yadav combined to leave Punjab in a spin, picking 6/45 overall in 10 over’s at a run rate of 4.50 to be out for a paltry score of 115, which unsurprisingly was chased down by Delhi in 10.3 over’s.
However, things did not look any good for Delhi, who was asked to bat first, as Liam Livingstone scalped star batter David Warner for a golden duck in the first over. Eventually, Mitchell Marsh’s 63 helped Delhi reach 159/7.
"I think the sixth over was the big over where I got two wickets. They were cruising and we saw in both innings, the power play was a big one. Fast bowlers were going for runs. And as soon as the power play ended, suddenly the runs stopped. So, getting two wickets in the sixth over was very crucial, and after that the spinners came on for us and did the job pretty well," were Thakur's words after the match.
The target was always achievable, but the bowlers rose to the occasion big time and took wickets at regular intervals. After Jonny Bairstow's dismissal for 28 runs, Delhi ran through their key batters, and was reduced to 59/4. Then Punjab pinned all their hopes on in-form Livingstone, but when the Englishman was dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav, Delhi was favorites.
Though Jitesh Sharma fought hard with his 44 and Rahul Chahar brought out the long handle, it was inadequate for Punjab to cover over the insipid show against the Delhi spinners, who had overall figures of 4/34 in eight over’s at a run rate of 4.25. Despite a brave innings of 34-ball 44 from Jitesh Sharma, his innings did not prove to be enough as Shardul Thakur delivered big time in the contest, scalping four wickets. Kuldeep (3-0-14-2) and Axar Patel (4-0-14-2) also played their part in the win.
"We didn't bat well. Between over’s 5 and 10, we lost too many wickets and that's where we lost the game. I thought it was definitely chase able for the batting we have and the wicket wasn't as bad as it seemed. Marsh did manage to get a move on, especially in the 18th over as they hit 16 runs but Kagiso Rabada dismissed the Australian in the next over for 63, comprising four fours and three sixes.
Brief scores: DC 159/7 in 20 ovs (Marsh 63; Livingstone 3/27) bt PBKS 142/9 in 20 ovs (Jitesh 44; Thakur 4/36).
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