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DC beat KXIP by 5 wickets | Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Capitals, Highlights And Cricket Score 37th T20 Match - Commentary
Indian Premier League, 2019
Date: Apr 20, 2019 Start Time: 20:00 IST | 14:30 GMT | 20:00 LocalVenue: Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Venue: Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
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Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Capitals Highlights And Cricket Score 37th Match - T20 Commentary
164 to chase for Delhi to get back to winning ways. Looks easy but like Punjab, the batting is not too deep. Shaw and Dhawan have been inconsistent with only Iyer being somewhat consistent. Colin Ingram is back after a long break while Sherfane Rutherford is an unknown quantity. An exciting run chase beckons. Dew will play a pivotal role.
Sandeep Lamichhane says that it was really tough to bowl because of the dew. Adds that Gayle attacked them in the Powerplay but after 10-12 overs, Punjab bounced back. On his bowling plans against Gayle, Lamichhane mentions that he just wanted to give him singles and get him off strike. Also adds that he tried to make him slog across the line and get the top edge but admits that Gayle batted really well. He is confident that his batsmen will chase down this target as there is dew around and the ball will come onto the bat nicely.
Disciplined bowling from Delhi, who read the pitch well. Amit Mishra got some tonking because of literally poor bowling but the others were excellent. Sandeep Lamichhane purchased 3 wickets for the cost of 40 runs and that was worth it. The acrobatic catch combination of Ingram and Axar to get rid of Gayle turned things in Punjab's favour and Lamichhane also dismissed Curran in the same over, turning up the heat. Here he is, talking to Michael Slater...
As the previous text suggests, it was all about that innings at the top. From Christopher Henry Gayle. He was in his own league, as he dismissed every bowler that he faced, to the cleaners, while the others kept getting out to soft dismissals. But once he got out, the runs started to come in a trickle and save aside for a sensible 30 from Mandeep and an unbeaten 12-ball 20 from the debutant Harpreet Brar, there was nothing much to talk about Punjab's batting.
How to look at 163? Let us try two ways - A. You are just tuning in and seeing that on a dry turning wicket at the Kotla, Punjab have got 160. Match-winning. B. You have been following the game pretty well and seen that Punjab were 92/3 at the halfway mark. That means only 71 runs scored in the second half with 4 wickets lost. Match-turning.
Kagiso Rabada to Harpreet Brar. SIX! A biggie to finish the innings! Will this hurt Delhi later on? Short and outside off, Harpreet rocks back and pulls it with consummate ease over mid-wicket! Punjab finish on 163/7!
Kagiso Rabada to Hardus Viljoen. Another bye. Outside off, HV swings hard, to miss again. Another bye is stolen as another under-arm shy from Pant goes wide of the stumps.
Kagiso Rabada to Hardus Viljoen. An all South African affair. Rabada digs it short and outside off, Viljoen swats it through mid-wicket. Colin Ingram races to his left from the ropes and dives full length to stop the boundary. Two runs taken.
Kagiso Rabada to Hardus Viljoen. TWO BYES. One off an overthrow. Schoolboy stuff from Rabada. First, a bouncer to his countryman. Viljoen ducks and then Brar calls Hardus for the bye. Pant under-arms the ball to Rabada who tries to back-flick the ball at the non-striker's end. But misses. The ball goes to long on and the second is taken.
Kagiso Rabada to Harpreet Brar. Short and around middle, Brar looks to pull but is done in by the bounce. Mistimes his shot wide of short mid-wicket and gets a single.
Hardus Viljoen comes out at number 9, with 5 balls left.
Kagiso Rabada to Ravichandran Ashwin. OUT! Rabada strikes on the first ball of the final over. Short and around off, cutting in, cramping the batsman for room, Ashwin, looking to back away and pull is cramped. He goes through with the shot but only manages to make feeble connection. The ball barely carries to his counterpart at long on but Shreyas Iyer charges in and dives forward to take a clean catch. For some reason, Ashwin stands his ground and waits for the confirmation that the catch is clean. Is not kept waiting for too long as the replays come in pretty quickly and convincingly.
Ishant Sharma to Ravichandran Ashwin. Fuller length delivery on leg, following the batsman. Ashwin drives it to long on for a single.
Ishant Sharma to Harpreet Brar. Fuller length by Ishant, Brar squeezes it towards the cover region for a single.
Ishant Sharma to Ravichandran Ashwin. A short delivery on off, Ashwin jumps to his off stump so that he can swing his arms. In the end pulls it towards the mid on region for a single.
Ishant Sharma to Harpreet Brar. Too full length delivery on off almost a yorker, Brar squeezes to point for a single.
Ishant Sharma to Harpreet Brar. FOUR! PUMMELED! This kid can bat. Short and wide outside off, Harpreet crashes it through the covers and beats the sweeper in the deep.
Ishant Sharma to Harpreet Brar. Wide! Another wide by Ishant. Full outside off, this one goes past the guidelines again. Wide given.
Ishant Sharma to Harpreet Brar. Wide! Ishant tries to keep it away from Brar, tries too much. Wided.
Ishant Sharma to Harpreet Brar. Ishant bowls this outside off. Brar looks to heave it above bowler's head, but is beaten due to lack of pace.
Surprising. Ishant Sharma is bowling the 19th over. 3-0-19-0 so far. Those are not poor figures but given that Axar has picked up 2 wickets, one guessed the left-arm spinner could have been given the nod.
Kagiso Rabada to Ravichandran Ashwin. A short delivery on middle and leg, Ashwin looks to upper cut it towards third man but fails to make any connection.
Kagiso Rabada to Ravichandran Ashwin. FOUR! Not a bad shot at all from the skipper. Short and outside off, Ashwin backs away and swats a pull wide of mid on for a boundary!
Kagiso Rabada to Harpreet Brar. A back of a length this time from Rabada on off, Brar drives it from his back foot to mid off for a single.
Kagiso Rabada to Ravichandran Ashwin. Rabada bowls this on short of a length on off, Ashwin guides it to third man. Single taken.
Kagiso Rabada to Harpreet Brar. A back of a length delivery on off, Brar guides it towards the point region for a single.
Kagiso Rabada to Harpreet Brar. A super delivery. Rabada from round the wicket fires this one on off which angles in for Brar. Harpreet was looking for a drive but gets beaten.
Kagiso Rabada returns. 2-0-7-1 so far.
Axar Patel to Harpreet Brar. A back of a length ball on leg, Brar flicks it towards the mid-wicket region for a single. 7 runs and a wicket from the over, Axar's figures read 3-0-22-2. Will he bowl out in the 19th?
Axar Patel to Harpreet Brar. FOUR! Not a bad way to get yourself going in your first game. Short and outside off, Harpreet rocks back and punches it through the covers to get his first runs in T20 itself, leave alone Indian T20 League.
Axar Patel to Harpreet Brar. A back of length delivery on leg, Brar looks for a flick but fails to connect. The ball hits him on his pads. A little shout from the bowler. Umpire shakes his head. Probably pitched outside leg.
Harpreet Brar, the debutant, walks out to the middle.
Axar Patel to Mandeep Singh. OUT! Stumped by a mile. Smart bowling from Axar. Mandeep telegraphed a month in advance that he is going to come down the track. Patel received that telegraph but treated it like a telegram. Fired it outside off and a bit wider as well. Singh swings wildly but misses. Rishabh Pant behind makes no mistake. So the last recognized batsman also departs. Can Punjab get to at least 160 from here?
Axar Patel to Ravichandran Ashwin. Back of a length on off, Ashwin punches it to the covers region for single.
Axar Patel to Mandeep Singh. Axar bowls this flat on off, Mandeep pushes it to covers for a single.
Axar Patel is back. 2-0-15-1 so far.
Amit Mishra to Mandeep Singh. A flatter delivery on leg, Mandeep flicks it to mid-wicket for a single.
Amit Mishra to Ravichandran Ashwin. A flighted delivery on off, Ashwin drives it towards the long off region. Single taken.
Amit Mishra to Mandeep Singh. A nicely tossed up delivery on off, Mandeep comes down the track and flicks it to mid-wicket for a single.
Amit Mishra to Ravichandran Ashwin. A short delivery on off, Ashwin rocks back and hits it to mid on. Single taken.
Amit Mishra to Mandeep Singh. A flighted delivery on off, Mandeep drives it to long off for a single.
Amit Mishra to Mandeep Singh. FOUR! Bad bowling. 'What is this?' asks an angry Kevin Pietersen on air. Short and too much width on offer outside off. Mandeep hangs back, then reaches out and slaps it over cover for a boundary!
Sandeep Lamichhane to Mandeep Singh. DROPPED BY RABADA? Lamichhane delivers it short and around leg, Mandeep goes deep inside the crease and pulls it behind square leg. Rabada in the deep initially looks to go back but then dives forward to attempt for the catch. It appears that he has spilled it. Yes, the replays confirm that. So, a life for Mandeep Singh. A single taken.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Mandeep Singh. Leans forward to a full ball and jams it down with a straight bat.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Ravichandran Ashwin. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Ravichandran Ashwin. A googly on the flatter side, around off and turning in, Ashwin defends it from the crease.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Ravichandran Ashwin. FOUR! That's not the length to bowl on his surface. It's on the shorter side and skidding off the surface too, Ashwin hangs on the back foot and smacks it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Mandeep Singh. Flighted ball on middle, worked in the gap on the leg side for one.
Amit Mishra to Mandeep Singh. Loopy and full on middle, it's quietly worked through mid-wicket for a run. 5 from the over, 19/2 in the last four overs. Good going from Delhi.
Amit Mishra to Mandeep Singh. A better throw from the deep would have made things interesting. A long hop on middle, Singh pulls it down to deep mid-wicket where Rabada makes a tumbling stop. He fires his throw to the keeper but it's quite wide and Mandeep completes the second run safely.
Amit Mishra to Mandeep Singh. Flatter leg spinner landing on leg and turning away, Mandeep sticks back and defends it at the last moment.
Amit Mishra to Ravichandran Ashwin. Flatter and quicker, on the pads, Ashwin helps it off his pads towards mid-wicket and Mishra himself runs after the ball. They take a single.
Amit Mishra to Ravichandran Ashwin. A leg spinner on the shorter side, around off, Ashwin pushes it out from the crease to point.
Amit Mishra to Mandeep Singh. Shortish and on middle, Mandeep goes back and punches it through mid-wicket for a run.
STRATEGIC BREAK. Interesting. Has that 2-wicket over turned the tide? Punjab were cruising towards 200 but now, even 170 looks difficult from here on. Because of the lack of batsmen. Skipper Ravichandran Ashwin has walked out to the middle. Meanwhile, Amit Mishra is back on. 2-0-27-0 so far.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Sam Curran. OUT! Two wickets in the over and Delhi have made a fantastic comeback now. Lamichhane is converting his miserable evening into a superb one. A googly outside off, holding up a bit onto the batsman, Curran is very early into his shot and pushes it back aerially to the bowler. Sandeep makes no mistake and now Punjab are in real trouble.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Sam Curran. A tossed up delivery on off, Curran plays it towards the cover region.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Sam Curran. A flighted delivery on off, Sam blocks it.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Sam Curran. Lamichhane fires this one on leg, Curran defends it.
Sam Curran walks in at number 6, replacing Gayle. There is not much depth in batting.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Chris Gayle. OUT! That is a terrific display of team effort! Lamichhane was gone on the previous ball but Gayle is gone on this one. Sensational from Ingram. The newly become father has done something really special. Short and outside off, Gayle looks to play the pull. This is not cleanly connected though. The ball goes towards deep mid-wicket where Colin Ingram steadies himself under the catch. However, there is more to come. The South African, who recently was on paternity leave, has got himself in the headlines pretty soon on return. He realizes that he is losing balance, so he flicks the ball powerfully behind. Then, he trips over the ropes. Initially, it seems like there is no one to catch it but Axar Patel is standing there, at wide long on, to gleefully accept the gift! Gayle is already walking when the decision is sent upstairs and when OUT flashes on the giant screen, the big man is behind the sightscreen. End of a wonderful knock. Will Delhi bounce back now?
Is that a legal catch? Gayle is walking, rather trudging. The umpires still want to check though. The soft signal is OUT.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Chris Gayle. SIX! POUNDED! Lamichhane is on and Lamichhane is gone. Full and outside off, a bit of flight, Gayle gets down on a knee and slogs it miles over mid-wicket!
Sandeep Lamichhane is on. 2-0-27-1 so far.
Kagiso Rabada to Mandeep Singh. A short delivery outside off, Mandeep looks for a pull but gets a bottom edge onto the ground towards the wicket keeper.
Kagiso Rabada to Chris Gayle. Full on leg, Gayle flicks it towards the mid-wicket region for a run. 100 up for Punjab.
Kagiso Rabada to Mandeep Singh. A back of a length delivery, Mandeep waits for it and guides it towards the third man region for a single.
Kagiso Rabada to Mandeep Singh. A short delivery by Rabada on off, Mandeep guides it to point.
Kagiso Rabada to Chris Gayle. A back of a length delivery on off, Gayle pushes it towards the cover region for an easy single.
Kagiso Rabada to Chris Gayle. Rabada fires this on off, Gayle plays it to point.
Kagiso Rabada is back on. 1-0-4-1 so far.
Michael Slater is having a chat with Delhi's scouting head, Pravin Amre. Amre says that this is the way the Kotla wicket played last season as well. Adds that some days, dew sets in and on those days, the pitch gets better to bat on. Cites tonight's example, saying that it does not look like it is a turning wicket. Hopes to get Chris Gayle out quickly and then bounce back into the game. Reckons that the batting unit should not plan for too much as plenty of runs can be scored in the last few overs. Feels 150-160 can be defended on this track. Sees the Powerplay batting in their last match against Mumbai as a positive and is happy that Shikhar Dhawan is amongst the runs. On the coaching staff's role, Amre says that every person has been given a big amount of freedom and praises Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting for constantly guiding Shreyas Iyer.
Sherfane Rutherford to Chris Gayle. A short delivery, Gayle gets on his back foot and pulls it to mid-wicket for a single. 5 runs from the over.
Sherfane Rutherford to Mandeep Singh. A short of a good length delivery, Mandeep dances down the track and pulls it back past the bowler for a run towards the mid on region.
Sherfane Rutherford to Chris Gayle. A back of a length on off, Gayle waits for it on his back foot and guides it towards third man for a single.
Sherfane Rutherford to Mandeep Singh. Full on leg, Mandeep works it down to square leg for a single.
Sherfane Rutherford to Chris Gayle. A back of a length delivery outside off, Gayle guides it towards the third man region. Single taken.
Sherfane Rutherford to Chris Gayle. Rutherford starts with a back of a length delivery, Gayle punches it to covers.
Sherfane Rutherford comes on to bowl now.
Axar Patel to Chris Gayle. Around off, worked through square leg for another single. 10 from the over, 26 from the last 2. 92/3 at the halfway stage, are we eyeing 200?
Axar Patel to Mandeep Singh. Outside off, pushed down to long on for one more.
Axar Patel to Mandeep Singh. Gets down and cheekily paddles this fine. Hustles back for the second and pushes Gayle for the same. The keeper collects the ball and has a shy at the bowler's end and hits the stumps direct. But Gayle is well in.
Axar Patel to Mandeep Singh. Around off, pushed back to the bowler.
Axar Patel to Mandeep Singh. Outside off, pushed straight to point.
Axar Patel to Mandeep Singh. SIX! Third big hit in the span of 7 balls. This is a lovely shot. Floated outside off, Mandeep reaches out and then goes inside out. The ball lands beyond the extra cover boundary!
Amit Mishra to Mandeep Singh. Short delivery on leg, Mandeep pulls it to mid-wicket for a run. 16 runs from the over.
Amit Mishra to Chris Gayle. Mishra fires this one on middle and leg, Gayle plays it to mid off and runs for a run. Iyer at the position quickly gathers the ball and has a shy at the stumps at the non-striker's end but misses. If Iyer would have hit, it would have been curtains for Gayle.
Amit Mishra to Chris Gayle. SIX! PLUNDERED! Bad bowling. Has dew come into play already? A short ball outside off, Gayle goes back and pulls it with aplomb over mid-wicket!
Amit Mishra to Mandeep Singh. A short delivery on off, Mandeep punches this on his back foot to covers for a run.
Amit Mishra to Chris Gayle. Full on leg, Gayle sweeps it to square leg for a run. The entire Kotla stands up and applauds. Yet another half century for the Universe Boss. Can he double the same?
Amit Mishra to Chris Gayle. SIX! Into orbit! That has slipped out of the hands, one would imagine. A full toss, around off, Gayle just clobbers it miles over mid-wicket!
Axar Patel to Chris Gayle. Outside off, Gayle pushes it towards long off for one.
Axar Patel to Mandeep Singh. Outside off, Mandeep punches it down to long on for a single.
Axar Patel to Chris Gayle. Short by Axar, Gayle punches it to mid off for a run.
Axar Patel to Mandeep Singh. Length delivery on off, Mandeep gets down on one knee and paddles it towards the fine leg for a run.
Axar Patel to Chris Gayle. Full on leg, Gayle taps it with ease to the leg side. Single taken.
Mandeep Singh walks in.
Axar Patel to David Miller. OUT! A wicket out of nowhere. Miller holes out. Tossed up, outside off, Miller comes down the track and looks to go over the top. Rather, he just tries to chip it over the infield. But the ball takes the toe end of the bat and goes only as far as deep mid-wicket. Prithvi Shaw is stationed at the ropes and takes it comfortably. Probably, a shot which could have been avoided. A wicket on the very first ball for Axar.
Axar Patel introduced.
Amit Mishra to Chris Gayle. SIX! HUMONGOUS! Gayle ends the over in style. Short and outside off, the Universe Boss rocks back and pulls it miles over long on!
Amit Mishra to David Miller. Fuller delivery by Mishra this time, Miller flicks it to wide mid on for a run.
Amit Mishra to Chris Gayle. A floated delivery on leg, Gayle flicks it upplishly towards the mid-wicket region for a run.
Amit Mishra to David Miller. A back of a length on off, Miller on his back foot plays it to mid off for a single.
Amit Mishra to Chris Gayle. Full on leg, Gayle flicks it to square leg. Single taken
Amit Mishra to David Miller. Mishra starts with a back of a length delivery on off, Miller punches it to mid off for a single.
STRATEGIC BREAK. It's been an explosive beginning from Chris Gayle but in the process, he has lost two partners as well. Delhi will be satisfied with the way things have progressed so far but with Gayle in the middle, they just cannot afford to relax. Let's wait and watch how the next half pans out.
Ishant Sharma to Chris Gayle. A back of a length delivery on middle, CG plays it to covers. End of the Powerplay, Punjab have raced to 50 but Delhi have also picked up 2 wickets.
Ishant Sharma to Chris Gayle. Ishant makes a comeback with a short delivery on middle and leg. Gayle pulls it to mid-wicket.
Ishant Sharma to Chris Gayle. FOUR! The Gateway of India at the Kotla. Prithvi Shaw the culprit. Outside off, on a length, Gayle punches this through cover and point. Shaw dives to his right but is late and the ball sneaks through.
Ishant Sharma to Chris Gayle. A length delivery on off angling away for Gayle. Chris Gayle lets it go.
Ishant Sharma to Chris Gayle. Full on middle and leg, Gayle blocks it.
Ishant Sharma to Chris Gayle. Fuller delivery by Ishant Sharma. Gayle plays it towards the point region.
Change of ends for Ishant. 2-0-15-0 so far.
Kagiso Rabada to David Miller. LUCKY FOUR! Full and speared into the batsman at 151 kph, Miller brings his bat down to keep it out but it takes the inside edge and runs wide of short fine leg for a boundary. Spoils a wicket maiden for Kagiso. Still, a very impressive over by the South African.
David Miller time.
Kagiso Rabada to Mayank Agarwal. OUT! Four dot balls and Mayank succumbs under pressure. Very ordinary from the young man. He looked quite restless during his short stay. Sometimes you need to respect the rhythm of the bowler, if not the bowler. Sharp delivery, it's banged into the batsman, Agarwal stays back to play the pull shot but is hurried on by the pace. Ends up towering it in the air off the top edge and Sherfane Rutherford runs forward and across from cover-point to complete the catch. Two early blows inside the Powerplay for Punjab.
Kagiso Rabada to Mayank Agarwal. Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. No run.
Kagiso Rabada to Mayank Agarwal. Play normal cricket, Mayank. Rabada clocks 147.8 kph this time. On a good length and it's skidding off the surface, Agarwal tries to play late but misses. Offering a straight bat is a better option against this bowler.
Kagiso Rabada to Mayank Agarwal. Play and a miss! Not a good shot selection from Agarwal. Rabada is not a club level bowler. A pacey delivery, on a back of a length around off, Agarwal steps back to smash it over the bowler's head but misses.
Kagiso Rabada to Mayank Agarwal. Starts with a length ball on off, Agarwal covers the angle and defends it to the off side.
Kagiso Rabada to bowl now.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Chris Gayle. FOUR! 16 from the over and Gayle is roaring now. A googly on the shorter side outside off, Chris camps back and muscles his punch shot through cover-point.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Chris Gayle. FOUR! Lamichhane is definitely feeling the pressure. Lets out a fuller length ball down the leg side, Gayle whips it across the line and sends it to the fine leg fence in no time.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Chris Gayle. Stays on the back foot and punches the googly to covers.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Chris Gayle. FOUR! Drilled down the ground! Too full in length and on middle, Gayle clears his front leg and bludgeons it back past the bowler. Probably it brushed Lamichhane's hands but it's travelling and there is no way he will catch those. Will still go down as a dropped catch though.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Chris Gayle. A flatter googly on middle, Gayle lunges and defends it back.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Chris Gayle. FOUR! Wrong line from Sandeep and Gayle has not spared him. Short and down the leg side, further spinning down, Gayle turns inside the crease and pulls it behind square leg for a boundary.
Ishant Sharma to Chris Gayle. Lands it on a length and on the pads, Gayle pushes it off his pads towards mid on. Seeing that Amit Mishra is very lazy in going after the ball, Sharma himself sets off. The batsmen still take a run. 12 from the over, 23 in the last two. Punjab pressing forward now.
Ishant Sharma to Chris Gayle. SIX! Into the night sky! The monster has decided to get going now. A knuckle delivery by Ishant but the line and length is not quite there. It's around off and Gayle opens his arms to dismiss it over long on for a maximum. 101m on the radar!
Ishant Sharma to Chris Gayle. FOUR! Cheeky! Ishant angles across a length delivery outside off, slower in pace, Gayle waits for it quietly on the back foot and then at the very last moment, he opens the face of his bat and runs it down past the diving short third man fielder.
Ishant Sharma to Chris Gayle. On a length and around off, Gayle punches it from the crease but finds mid off.
Ishant Sharma to Mayank Agarwal. Width on offer outside off, Mayank reaches out for it and guides it down to third man for one.
Ishant Sharma to Mayank Agarwal. Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Mayank Agarwal. Fine delivery this time. A googly on off, turning in. Agarwal picks it late and works it on the leg side for one. So, the first three balls were against Lamichhane but then he bounces back in the next three. Eventful over.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Mayank Agarwal. Beaten! Big spin away from the new batsman. Agarwal gets forward and tries to push it through the line but is beaten due to the away spin.
Mayank Agarwal walks in at number 3, replacing Rahul.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Lokesh Rahul. OUT! Rahul's back leg is on the line, nothing behind and he has to walk back. This is a body blow to Punjab as they lose an in-form batsman. The boy from Nepal now responds to KL's welcome in the best possible manner. Beauty of a delivery, this. Nice drift on this leg spinner. It lands around off and Rahul stretches forward to defend it. But the ball spins away to beat the outside edge and Pant breaks the stumps in a flash. They appeal and the square leg umpire takes it upstairs. The replay is against Rahul and it's an early exit for him.
Out? Not out? Draw the line. Where is Rahul's foot? Has he been stumped? Rishabh Pant seems very confident.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! Well played! A googly around off, turning back in, Rahul goes down and across before sweeping it behind square leg for a boundary.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Lokesh Rahul. Tossed up ball on off, Rahul defends it by getting on the front foot.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Lokesh Rahul. SIX! High and long! A flighted delivery, landing very full in the line of the stumps, Rahul moves back to make room and hoists it over long off for a biggie. A nice welcome to the young man from Nepal by KL!
Who will bowl from the other end? It's Sandeep Lamichhane to bowl his leggies. A slip in place.
Ishant Sharma to Lokesh Rahul. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. 3 from Ishant's first over.
Ishant Sharma to Lokesh Rahul. A little bit of miscommunication but no harm done. Length ball on off, Rahul walks forward and across to work it in front of square leg. He steps out for a run, Gayle also responds, both are ball-watching and eventually they decide to abort the plan as Dhawan releases his throw at the striker's end.
Ishant Sharma to Lokesh Rahul. Gets behind the line of the delivery and forces it towards mid off.
Ishant Sharma to Lokesh Rahul. On a length and around off, Rahul covers the angle and defends it to the off side.
Ishant Sharma to Chris Gayle. Nice line. A length ball on middle and leg, angling across from there, Gayle brings his bat down in time to push it in the direction of mid off for one. He also gets off the mark first ball like his partner.
Ishant Sharma to Lokesh Rahul. Starts the spell with a full ball angling into the batsman around off, Rahul steps forward and across before flicking it wide of mid on for a run. Punjab are underway!
We are all set to begin. Out come Chris Gayle and KL Rahul for Punjab. Ishant Sharma will start the proceedings for Delhi.
Punjab (Playing XI) - Lokesh Rahul(WK), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin(C), Sam Curran (In for Nicholas Pooran), Harpreet Brar (In for Arshdeep Singh), Murugan Ashwin, Hardus Viljoen (In for Mujeeb Ur Rahman), Mohammed Shami.
Delhi (Playing XI) - Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer(C), Rishabh Pant(WK), Colin Ingram (In for Colin Munro), Sherfane Rutherford (In for Chris Morris), Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane (In for Keemo Paul), Ishant Sharma.
Punjab skipper, Ravichandran Ashwin says that he would have fielded first as well but he won't mind batting first either. He is happy that he doesn't have to make the decision here at the toss. Regarding the team changes, Ashwin informs that Harpreet Brar is playing who offers good bowling and batting options while Sam Curran is back as well along with Hardus Viljoen. Tells that the reasons for the changes are that they want to have extra bowling option with the dew around.
Delhi skipper, Shreyas Iyer says that they will bowl first due to the dew factor and the pitch is also on the drier side. Adds that the last result also has to do with this decision and they want to rectify those mistakes. Feels it will be really good to chase. Wants to be positive and play fearless cricket. Informs about the three changes for Delhi - Colin Ingram, Sandeep Lamichhane and Sherfane Rutherford are playing in place of Colin Munro, Chris Morris and Keemo Paul.
Toss - Shreyas Iyer wins the coin-toss and DELHI WILL FIELD!
Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, for the second match of the evening and it's happening at the Feroz Shah Kotla between Delhi and their northern neighbours, Punjab. Both teams have contrasting fortunes heading into this game. The hosts got their winning run broken in the last match while Punjab managed to bounce back after losing two on the bounce. It's all about getting their act together as the battle in the points table is only going to get intense from hereon. Let's hope for a cracking one. Stay tuned for more updates...
It is a hat-trick! Flashback Friday. King Kohli is the Man Of The Match in Bangalore's thrilling win. Saturday evening saw Precocious Steven Smith walk away with the Man Of The Match award after resisting a staunch Mumbai in Jaipur. And Saturday night saw Mr. Iyer complete the hat-trick. So three successive games have seen the skippers leading from the front. Will the trend continue? Sunday sees four such skippers again - Williamson's Hyderabad take on Karthik's Kolkata while Kohli is back on, this time to take on his mentor, MS Dhoni. The games start at 4 pm local (1030 GMT) and 8 pm local (1430 GMT) respectively, so do not forget to tune in on another double-header day. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
Victorious Delhi captain, Shreyas Iyer, has been named the MAN OF THE MATCH. Says that this comes as a really satisfying win after 3 losses at home. Stresses that it was not an easy wicket to chase and lauds Dhawan for digging in. Admits that this is not a track which would suit his batsmen as most of them play on the rise and want the ball to come on to the bat. Says that he took up the responsibility to bat deep and stay till the end. Praises Sandeep Lamichhane for stepping up a gear and says that Amit Mishra's experience is helping the Nepalese. Lauds Shikhar Dhawan's positive approach and wants all his top order batsmen to be courageous. Hopes that in the coming games, the rest of the top order takes up the responsibility of batting till the end.
Shikhar Dhawan is up for a chat as well. Smiles and says that it's important for them to win this game as they now get closer to qualify for the knockouts. Wants to get much better than today and keep improving. Tells that they wanted to utilize the first six overs as the wicket was on the slower side and hitting the softer ball would have been tougher. Mentions that he just focuses on the process and as an experienced player, he keeps talking to his boys in the middle and tries to make sure that they don't lose wickets under pressure.
Punjab skipper, Ravichandran Ashwin, says that 163 was just below par due to the kind of dew on the outfield. Feels that they lost too many wickets in the middle which hurt them. Adds that Mujeeb getting injured was a setback for them. Terms it unfortunate that they didn't have enough runs on the board. Admits that they failed to tighten the noose and kept leaking boundaries here and there. Praises Shreyas Iyer for his knock and cheekily comments that Iyer knew that his wicket could have led to another collapse. Lauds Harpreet Brar's efforts as well and considers him one for the future.
Have to feel for the Punjab bowlers. They struggled with the persistent dew and eventually ran out of steam. Mohammed Shami was the only bowler who was consistent and ended up with figures of 4-0-21-1. The rest simply could not adjust to the dew.
It was the Dhawan-Iyer show for a major part of the chase with the 92-run stand taking care of Punjab's bowling. With the dew around, the bowling was not that great and the duo took full toll. Shikhar continued his good return to form, with his third 30-plus score in the last 4 innings. But as has been seen in the past, the hosts fell on the slippery road of collapse, losing 4/40 in 32 balls before skipper Iyer shepherded them through. To be honest, he kept his cool during the choke but was denied much strike.
Almost making a habit of choking, are Delhi, aren't they? Another last-over finish. Didn't seem so when Delhi were 116/1 needing 48 under 7 overs. But Dhawan's wicket did set the cat free amongst the pigeons before caretaker Iyer took care that there was no brain fade.
Phew. The match ends. Saturday is done. Another nerve-wracking double header. In the end, Delhi, who should have won, ended up winning but not without nearly losing it.
Sam Curran to Shreyas Iyer. FOUR! DELHI WIN BY 5 WICKETS! Curran lets in a short of a length ball on middle, Shreyas gets on top of the bounce and hammer-pulls it to deep mid-wicket for the winning runs. A rare win at home for them this season.
Sam Curran to Shreyas Iyer. Back of a length delivery on off, Shreyas Iyer tries going over the leg side but it takes the outer half of his bat and flies over extra cover. Good for two runs. 3 needed off 2 balls.
Sam Curran to Sherfane Rutherford. Bang! Curran delivers a length ball on off, Rutherford hammers it over the bowler's head and Miller moves swiftly across to his left from long off to stop the ball. The striker, who was standing and admiring his shot, has to cross for a single.
Sam Curran to Shreyas Iyer. Back of a length delivery on off, Iyer stays back and works it through mid-wicket for a single.
6 needed off 6 balls. Sam Curran to bowl...
Mohammed Shami to Shreyas Iyer. Very full and on middle, it's knocked down to long on for a single. Shreyas retains the strike.
Mohammed Shami to Sherfane Rutherford. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. They pick up a single.
Sherfane Rutherford walks in at number 7, replacing Axar.
Mohammed Shami to Axar Patel. OUT! Axar Patel is run out! Hang on, hang on, this evening surely is not going to end in a straightforward manner. We will get some more thrill. Good length ball on middle and leg, Axar glances it behind square leg and wants the second run. But while turning back he collides with Shami and as a result is very late in reaching to the other end. The throw comes nice and straight to Rahul who does the rest. Shami is gesturing that it was not intentional from him and the replays confirm the same. The bowler was walking in his line and never tried to get in Axar's way. Still Patel is furious as he returns.
Axar Patel walks in at number 6, replacing Ingram.
Mohammed Shami to Colin Ingram. OUT! Bowled 'em! Shami bowls it full and straight in the line of the stumps, Ingram skips down the track to play a big shot but fails to connect. The stumps are shattered and 9 needed off 9 at this stage.
Mohammed Shami to Shreyas Iyer. Fifty! Short in length and on off, pulled in front of square leg for a run. 12th Indian T20 League fifty for Shreyas Iyer.
Mohammed Shami to Shreyas Iyer. Play and a miss! Shami dishes out a back of a length delivery outside off, Iyer flirts inside the line and misses.
Hardus Viljoen to Colin Ingram. FOUR! Colin Ingram has pressed on the accelerator. Viljoen tries to follow the batsman down the leg side with a fullish ball, Ingram still manages to make room and drill his drive through covers. 13 from the over, 10 needed more off 12 balls.
Hardus Viljoen to Colin Ingram. FOUR! 14 needed more! Short in length and angling into the batsman, Ingram swivels on the back foot, lifts his back leg and pulls it behind square leg for a boundary.
Hardus Viljoen to Colin Ingram. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Hardus Viljoen to Colin Ingram. FOUR! Too full in length around off, Colin Ingram does well to open the face of his bat as he squeezes it out through backward point for a glorious boundary.
Hardus Viljoen to Shreyas Iyer. A well-directed short ball, Shreyas tries to pull but misses. It goes off his shoulders to short third man and they cross. Given as a run. Maybe, some bat involved.
Hardus Viljoen to Shreyas Iyer. Shortish and outside off, smashed through the line but straight to extra cover.
Mohammed Shami to Shreyas Iyer. Tries a big heave across the line to a length ball but it comes off the inside half of his blade and squirts through square leg for one. 5 from the over, 23 needed off the last three overs.
Mohammed Shami to Colin Ingram. Edgy! Plenty of width on offer outside off, Colin throws his bat at it and edges it down to third man for a run.
Mohammed Shami to Shreyas Iyer. Good stop by Rahul, saves a certain boundary with a dive to his left. Shami follows the batsman down the leg side, Iyer swings blindly and misses. Rahul makes a half-stop and they cross for a bye.
Mohammed Shami to Shreyas Iyer. Brings a length ball back into the right-hander. Shreyas plays it from the crease to short mid-wicket.
Mohammed Shami to Colin Ingram. Good length delivery on middle and leg, Ingram eases it through mid-wicket for a single.
Mohammed Shami to Shreyas Iyer. Width on offer outside off, Iyer glides it down to third man for a run.
Mohammed Shami is back on.
Hardus Viljoen to Colin Ingram. FOUR! No one in the deep and it has gone to the boundary. Colin Ingram stands back to a shortish ball outside off and gives it the full whack of his bat. Connects well and it goes over mid-wicket for a one-bounce boundary. 8 from the over, 28 needed off 24 balls.
Hardus Viljoen to Colin Ingram. Wide! Full and drifting down the leg side, Ingram swings his bat hard at it but fails to connect.
Hardus Viljoen to Shreyas Iyer. Pitches it up and outside off, Iyer goes hard at it and hits it off the inner half to long on for a run.
Hardus Viljoen to Shreyas Iyer. Shreyas tries to tap and run it on the off side but Ingram sends him back.
Hardus Viljoen to Colin Ingram. Plays a length ball to the left of the point fielder and sets off for a quick run. Mandeep attempts for a direct hit at the non-striker's end but misses.
Hardus Viljoen to Shreyas Iyer. Shortish and on off, Iyer goes on the back foot and punches it through cover-point for a run.
Newly-become dad, Colin Ingram comes in.
Hardus Viljoen to Rishabh Pant. OUT! Pant holes out cheaply! Is there some life still left in this match? A good length ball on off, angling in, Pant tries to slog it across the line but fails to middle his shot properly. Curran in the deep at mid-wicket takes the skier safely. Rishabh's sorry run continues. 36 needed off 29 balls.
Sam Curran to Shreyas Iyer. FOUR! Well played from the Delhi skipper! First he tricks the bowler by showing his back leg and gets the bowler confused. Shreyas then picks up the length early which is on the shorter side around off and slices it over backward point for a boundary.
Sam Curran to Shreyas Iyer. Sam steams in from 'round the wicket and follows the batsman down the leg side with a length ball. Iyer pushes it out with an angled bat but finds point.
Sam Curran to Rishabh Pant. Stays back and punches it to extra cover for a single.
Sam Curran to Rishabh Pant. FOUR! Misfield from Gayle! A slower short ball around middle and leg, Pant gets on top of the bounce and helps his pull shot towards short fine leg. Gayle puts in a dive but only manages to parry it behind for a boundary. Curran is not impressed.
Sam Curran to Rishabh Pant. Strokes his cover drive well but finds the fielder inside the ring.
Sam Curran to Rishabh Pant. Lands it on a length outside off, Pant strides forward to defend but it takes an inside edge and hits him on the pads. The ball deflects to the off side but no run is on offer.
Sam Curran to Rishabh Pant. Wide! Slips a length ball down the leg side, Pant tries to flick but misses.
Strategic break. Punjab have managed to send Dhawan back but are still behind in this match. They need wickets in a heap to have any semblance of chance. Shreyas Iyer is going quite sensibly but will need support from the other end. We have seen Delhi throwing away games from a good position. So, Punjab can still believe. Sam Curran is back on.
Hardus Viljoen to Rishabh Pant. Angles in a length ball on middle, Pant gets across and helps it through square leg for a run. 7 runs and a wicket from this over.
Hardus Viljoen to Rishabh Pant. Played to the point region by the batsman. No run.
Hardus Viljoen to Shreyas Iyer. It's been driven superbly through the covers. They pick up a single.
Rishabh Pant is in at number 4, replacing Dhawan.
Hardus Viljoen to Shikhar Dhawan. OUT! Dhawan departs with 48 still needed. But he has done his job with a fine knock and a superb partnership with his skipper. A clever change in pace from Viljoen. He bowls it slower on a length outside off, Dhawan is early into his heave-ho across the line and hits it straight up in the air towards mid-wicket. Gayle runs for it from inside the ring, Ashwin too is in pursuit from mid on, no calling whatsoever and luckily the Punjab skipper completes the catch with a tumble. Can the visiting team bounce back from here?
Hardus Viljoen to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Punjab have failed all evening to create any pressure.Yet another delivery on the shorter side around off, Dhawan pulls it with authority behind square leg and fetches a boundary.
Hardus Viljoen to Shreyas Iyer. Starts this spell with a shortish ball outside off, Shreyas cuts it through the line and Mayank at point makes a half-stop with a dive. They cross for a run.
Hardus Viljoen is back on.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Dhawan plays a cover drive with the spin but finds the extra cover fielder. 10 from the over, 53 needed off 42 balls.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Loopy and outside off, played with gentle hands to the off side for a run.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Delivers it with a round-arm action and bowls it full and outside off, Shikhar drives it through covers for a single.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Goes on the back foot and punches it to sweeper cover for one.
Ha ha!!! Gabbar gets the crowd going. R Ashwin stops in his followthrough and Dhawan has to get back in a hurry. In the previous over, he had to do so against Murugan. Jokingly, Dhawan sits down on a knee, protesting with a smile!
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Wide! Ashwin keeps firing it in. This one is way down the leg side. Iyer tries to flick but misses.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Fires one on the pads, Iyer flicks it off his pads to mid-wicket.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. SIX! High and handsome! Straight over the bowler's head. Flatter ball on off, Iyer shimmies down the track, brings his bottom hand into play and clubs it down the ground for a biggie.
Ravichandran Ashwin is back on.
Murugan Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Flighted and on middle, Shreyas uses his feet and works it through mid-wicket for one. 63 needed off 48 balls.
Mankading attempt? Naah, the bowler quietly walks to his mark. The bowler pulls out of his delivery stride and Dhawan immediately plants his bat inside the crease.
Murugan Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Walks forward and pushes it to extra cover for a single. 100 up for Delhi!
Murugan Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Advances down the track to a full ball and bounces it down the ground to long on for one.
Murugan Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Fifty for Dhawan, his 35th in the League! A googly, turning away from the batsman, Shikhar taps it down in front of point and pinches a single. The fielder attacks the ball but fails to do much with it.
Murugan Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Full and on middle, eased down through mid on for a run.
Murugan Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Shout for an lbw! Flighted delivery landing outside leg, a googly, Dhawan fails to sweep and it goes off his pads to short third man. The bowler appeals and the batsmen cross for a leg bye.
Sam Curran to Shreyas Iyer. Width on offer outside off, Iyer tries to slap it through the line but gets a bottom edge behind.
Sam Curran to Shikhar Dhawan. Walks down the track and drives it firmly through covers for a run.
Sam Curran to Shikhar Dhawan. Shortish and angling in on middle, Dhawan pulls it down to fine leg and takes a run. The throw from the deep comes to the keeper who fails to stop it and they cross for an overthrow. Mandeep now fires a direct hit at the striker's end but Dhawan is safely in.
Sam Curran to Shikhar Dhawan. BEAMER! No ball called for a high full toss! It's almost at the face of the batsman who is down the track. Somehow Dhawan keeps it out towards short third man. Free Hit coming...
Sam Curran to Shikhar Dhawan. Good delivery. Slants it into the batsman from a length around off, Dhawan presses forward in defense.
Sam Curran to Shreyas Iyer. This time Shreyas plays it with the angle of the bowler. He just opens the face of his bat and runs it down to third man for a single.
Sam Curran to Shreyas Iyer. A length ball angling away from the batsman, Shreyas pushes it to the right of the cover-point fielder who makes a diving stop. The batsmen decide not to cross.
Sam Curran is back on.
Murugan Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Played to the point region by the batsman. Dot ball to end the over.
Murugan Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Short and wide outside off, easy pickings as Dhawan cuts it through point for a brace.
Murugan Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Shout for an lbw! A leg spinner landing on middle and spinning back in to cramp the batsman. Dhawan tries to keep it out and does so with an inside edge. It hits him on the pads, Murugan appeals but the umpire stands still.
Murugan Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Wide! Murugan probably is struggling to grip the ball because of the dew factor. Sprays another one way wide outside off, Shikhar leaves.
Murugan Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Nice execution from Dhawan. Flighted delivery, full and around leg, Dhawan brings out the reverse sweep and nails it behind point. Mandeep puts in a dive but to no avail as he screams away to the fence.
Murugan Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Full and floated on middle, Shreyas calmly flicks it through mid-wicket and collects a single.
Murugan Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Whoa! A wild delivery. Way wide outside off. Dhawan leaves it alone and KL Rahul fails to collect it either. They cross and it's called a wide too.
Murugan Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Skidding away from the batsman, Dhawan stays back and pushes it to point.
Strategic break. Delhi are cruising at the moment on the back of the current partnership. 84 needed off 66 balls and both Dhawan and Iyer are looking in fine touch. Punjab are not helped by the dew but they have not bowled too well either. They need some inspiration in the field to make a comeback. Here is Murugan Ashwin...
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Turns it off his pads on the leg side for a run.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Rocks back to a short ball and forces it to sweeper cover for one.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. EDGY FOUR! A well-disguised carrom ball, gripping and spinning away, Iyer edges his attempted shot through the line and it speeds down to third man for a boundary.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Short and pulled to deep mid-wicket for a run. 50-run stand comes up!
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Not out! Dhawan's back leg never left the crease and was firmly planted all along. Fires one down the leg side, Dhawan turns on his axis, trying to probably pull but fails to connect. Rahul collects and breaks the stumps. He appeals, the square leg umpire takes it upstairs but no success for Ashwin.
Stumping appeal. It's taken upstairs. Was Dhawan's leg in the air?
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Dhawan has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Ravichandran Ashwin is back on.
Murugan Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Leans forward and softly pushes it through covers for one.
Murugan Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Chips a full ball over mid on for a run.
Murugan Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Loopy full delivery and outside off, driven straight to covers.
Murugan Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Short and wide outside off, Dhawan goes on the back foot and punches it to sweeper cover for one.
Murugan Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Flatter and shorter on middle, Iyer tries to heave but it takes the inside edge and rolls through mid-wicket for a run.
Murugan Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. NO BALL! Interesting. Very interesting. What is even more interesting is that neither the bowler nor the skipper are complaining. Looks like Murugan has been caught in his own trap. He wanted to mime the delivery stride but not deliver the ball. However, at the last moment, when he tried to hold back the ball, he could not and ended up bowling it near his feet. The umpire smartly spotted that. Murugan tried to defend saying that the ball slipped out but the umpire was firm and said that he completed the action and then lost control. Sure enough. Replays show that he did not lose control at all. No wonder no one is complaining. Iyer came down the track and wanted to hit it but by then the ball had lost flight and was rolling all along the carpet. So he let it go.
What happened there? Murugan Ashwin is in his delivery stride and completes it too but releases the ball very late in his own half and then it rolls outside the pitch. The umpire spots that and has awarded a Free Hit...
Murugan Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Smacked! Full toss on off, forced back to the bowler who did well to stop it in his followthrough.
Murugan Ashwin to bowl his leggies.
Harpreet Brar to Shreyas Iyer. Quicker and fuller on the pads, it's worked behind square leg for a single. A much-better over from the young man this time, only 7 from it.
Harpreet Brar to Shikhar Dhawan. Short and outside off, stroked through point for a single.
Harpreet Brar to Shreyas Iyer. Flatter and shorter, punched to sweeper cover for one.
Harpreet Brar to Shreyas Iyer. Fullish and outside off, Iyer plays a rollicking cover drive and it races away. Viljoen in the deep makes a fine tumbling stop, saving two for his side.
Harpreet Brar to Shikhar Dhawan. Goes on the back foot and punches it down to long on for a run.
Harpreet Brar to Shreyas Iyer. Iyer has played it towards mid-wicket. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Loopy and full outside off, Dhawan drives it through the line but finds cover-point. Powerplay is done, Delhi are 60/1, their best score this season and going well in this run chase. Rajasthan in their run chase earlier this evening also made a similar score at this stage and ended up on the winning side. Will Delhi do the same?
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Full and outside off, Shreyas strokes it to point for one.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Flatter and on the pads, it's flicked in front of square leg where Brar makes a diving stop.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shreyas Iyer. Turns it through wide mid on and scampers back for the second run.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. Floated and full on off, Dhawan softly pushes it to covers and crosses.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Be it a young man or a seasoned campaigner, no one will be spared. A long hop by Ashwin on middle, Dhawan pulls it mercilessly through mid-wicket for a boundary.
Ravichandran Ashwin is into the attack now to bowl the last over of the Powerplay.
Harpreet Brar to Shreyas Iyer. FOUR! 17 runs off Harpreet's first over! The debutant really got a harsh reality check of this demanding League. He drops it short and outside off, Shreyas camps back and packs a punch through covers for a boundary.
Harpreet Brar to Shikhar Dhawan. Loopy and on middle, Dhawan advances down the track and tries to flick. But he gets an inside edge onto the pads and it deflects in the gap on the off side for one.
Harpreet Brar to Shreyas Iyer. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.
Harpreet Brar to Shreyas Iyer. FOUR! Shreyas Iyer is very strong in that area. We saw him playing plenty of these shots with great success in a game against Bangalore. Slightly short and around off, Iyer immediately rocks back and plays a full-blooded square cut through backward point.
Harpreet Brar to Shikhar Dhawan. Tossed up ball on middle, helped in the gap at mid-wicket for a single.
Harpreet Brar to Shikhar Dhawan. SIX! Dhawan shows no mercy on the young man. Receives a full delivery wide outside off, he steps down the track and smashes it way over long off for a biggie.
Change in bowling. Debutant Harpreet Brar is introduced into the attack.
Hardus Viljoen to Shikhar Dhawan. Plays it with soft hands towards point and steals a single. 11 runs and a wicket from this over.
Hardus Viljoen to Shreyas Iyer. Turns it off his pads through square leg for a single to get off the mark.
Hardus Viljoen to Shikhar Dhawan. Walks forward and and plays it through covers for one.
Hardus Viljoen to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! No stopping this one. Yet another short delivery wide outside off, Dhawan exercises his arms and slaps it over point for back-to-back boundaries.
Hardus Viljoen to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Edgy! Shortish and outside off, Dhawan rushes down the track and throws his bat at it. It takes the outside edge and speeds down to third man for a run.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer walks in next. 140 needed off 101 balls.
Hardus Viljoen to Shikhar Dhawan. OUT! Mandeep hits the bull's eye and Dhawan has sold Shaw a dummy down the river. A full length ball outside off, Dhawan plays an uppish drive towards extra cover and sets off for a run. Seeing that Shaw responds and comes running down the track. But all of a sudden Dhawan stutters and stops before asking Prithvi to return. Poor young man tries to turn back and reach his crease but before that Mandeep Singh comes up with a brilliant direct hit to find him well short. He just had one stump to aim at and voila, he hits.
Hardus Viljoen is the first bowling change.
Mohammed Shami to Shikhar Dhawan. Nearly drags it on! A touch short and close to the off stump, Dhawan tries to cut it close to his body but gets a bottom edge. It rolls behind and they steal a run right under Rahul's nose. The keeper then has a needless shy at the bowler's end and connects. Luckily for him, the ricochet goes to the mid off fielder who is backing up. 12 from the over, 23 in the last two.
Mohammed Shami to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Boom! No stopping this one once it pierced the gap on the off side. Shami offers plenty of width on this delivery, Dhawan latches onto it and smacks it through extra cover.
Mohammed Shami to Prithvi Shaw. Sharp delivery, a touch short and on middle and leg at 140 clicks. Shaw turns inside the crease to work it on the leg side but it catches the leading edge of his bat and rolls to mid on for a run.
Mohammed Shami to Prithvi Shaw. That appears to be a slower delivery but the speed-gun says otherwise. Good length delivery outside off, Shaw swings and misses.
Mohammed Shami to Prithvi Shaw. A length ball angling in, Shaw goes hard at it and connects from the middle of his bat. It's uppish but goes on one bounce to mid on.
Mohammed Shami to Prithvi Shaw. SIX! A proper hook shot! Shami digs in a short delivery, well-directed at the head of the batsman. Shaw takes on the challenge of hooking it across the line, makes decent connection too and sends it packing over square leg for a biggie.
Sam Curran to Shikhar Dhawan. A mistimed shot... IN THE AIR... Shami circling around it, this is going to be a difficult catch... The ball FALLS SAFELY! Clever change in pace by Curran. He delivers it on a length outside off and Dhawan is early into his attempted big shot across the line. It flies over short fine leg, Shami runs after it, KL Rahul also follows him but nothing doing. Two taken to end an 11-run over.
Sam Curran to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Punished. An ill-directed shortish ball, sliding down the leg side, Dhawan swings his bat across the line and strokes it wide of short fine leg for a boundary.
Sam Curran to Shikhar Dhawan. Back of a length delivery outside off, Dhawan steps down the track and cracks it through the line. But he finds Miller at point.
Sam Curran to Prithvi Shaw. Shortish and on middle, pulled over mid-wicket for a run.
Mid on drops back.
Sam Curran to Prithvi Shaw. FOUR! That's a freebie when bowling from 'round the wicket angle. It's on the shorter side on middle and Shaw powers it over mid on for the first boundary of this run chase.
Sam Curran to Prithvi Shaw. Curran delivers it on a length and outside off, Prithvi stays back to play at it but misses.
Sam Curran to bowl from the other end. He is beginning from 'round the stumps straightaway.
Mohammed Shami to Shikhar Dhawan. Plenty of plays and misses in the first over. Shortish and angling away from the batsman, Dhawan flashes his blade at it and misses. Trying too hard, maybe.
Mohammed Shami to Shikhar Dhawan. Good connection but not in the gap. Fractionally short in length and on off, Dhawan packs a punch through the line but finds the point fielder.
Mohammed Shami to Prithvi Shaw. The line is straight this time, Shaw eases it off his pads in front of square leg and opens his account with a single.
Mohammed Shami to Prithvi Shaw. Play and a miss! Shaw is struggling at the moment. Short delivery, in the zone outside off, Shaw tries to slam it over point but fails to make any connection. The young man will be feeling a bit restless.
Mohammed Shami to Prithvi Shaw. Shortish again, a little bit of width on offer, Shaw mistimes his punch shot to covers this time.
Mohammed Shami to Prithvi Shaw. Beaten comprehensively on the first ball. Back of a length delivery just outside off, Shaw stays back to punch it through the line but it shapes back in a tad to beat the inside edge.
Back for the run chase. The men concerned are back on the field. Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan are the Delhi openers. The former has not been in good form post his knock of 99 while the latter has found his rhythm of late. Given the nature of the surface, start in the Powerplay is going to be really important. Dew will play a big factor so Punjab would try to inflict maximum damage when the ball is dry. Let's see who succeeds. Mohammed Shami to kick off proceedings. Here we go...