Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat Delhi Capitals (DC) by four wickets in yesterday’s IPL 2024 game in Mullanpur, Chandigarh. Sent into bat after losing the toss, DC put up 174-9, which PBKS chased down in 19.2 overs, with Sam Curran scoring 63 off 47. He was declared as player of match for his match defining innings.
Punjab Kings calculated the chase with ease
Punjab got off to a blazing start in their chase. Captain Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow hit two fours each as 17 came off the first over bowled by Khaleel Ahmed. Dhawan (22 off 16), though, was bowled by Ishant Sharma as he charged down the wicket and missed his swipe. In the same over, Bairstow (9) was run out at the non-striker’s end, with Ishant getting a hand on one that was chipped back by Prabhsimran Singh. Curran and Prabhsimran (26 off 17) added 42 for the third wicket before the latter miscued a googly off Kuldeep Yadav to long-on. Jitesh Sharma was stumped for 9 off the left-arm wrist-spinner, but Curran kept PBKS ahead in the game. He than played smartly with Liam Livingstone and made crucial partnership of 67.The duo attacked Mitchell Marsh (0-52). Curran and Shashank Singh (0) fell off consecutive deliveries to Khaleel, but Livingstone easily hit six in the last over against Sumit Kumar and took his side home.
Most of the Delhi batters shown promise but did not had lasting impact
Batting first, Delhi Capitals slipped from 39-0 to 147-8. However, a brilliant cameo from Abishek Porel (32* off 10) dragged DC past the 170-run mark. He hit four fours and two sixes in a short but entertaining knock. Delhi Capitals got off to a brisk start as David Warner (29 off 21) and Marsh (20 off 12 added 39 for the first wicket. Marsh, though, fell to Arshdeep Singh immediately after hitting a six, giving a catch to short-cover. Warner and Shai Hope (33 off 25) added 35 for the second wicket. The stand was broken when Warner top-edged a slower bouncer from Harshal Patel to the keeper. PBKS took a smart review to get the decision in their favour. Hope chipped a length ball from Kagiso Rabada to short cover. Rishabh Pant (18 off 13) did not last long on his comeback, hitting a slower short ball from Harshal to backward point. Delhi Capitals kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but Porel hammered Harshal for two sixes and three fours in the last over, which cost PBKS 25 runs.
Abhishek Porel was the standout batsman of Delhi Capitals
Porel came as impact substitute and directly made impact in the match. His knock was very valuable in the context of the march. He showed immense composure while batting. He showed his range of shots. Played almost in every part of the ground. He is expected to continue this role for Delhi Capitals.
Kevin Varchand