Captain David Warner got his hitting right after Ishant Sharma made a comeback after years but Delhi Capitals still chased down a modest target to beat Kolkata Knight Riders by four wickets to stay alive in this edition of the IPL on Thursday. With their backs to five defeats on the trot, the DC bowling line-up came to party en masse as KKR managed only 127 runs on a spiced deck which was aided by both pacers and spinners alike. Warner, DC’s best batsman this season, had struggled with his strike rate in the earlier games, but on Thursday he smashed a 41-ball 57 to reach the target with four balls to spare.
The DC batting looked to falter once again, barring Warner, but a below-par score might have saved the day for the home side as the ball began to take a hit in the second half of the chase, making strokeplay difficult. Despite a groin strain, Akshar Patel (19 not out off 22 balls) was successful in taking his team across the finishing line.
DC’s win was all about the two legends winning the Powerplay contest for their team.
The 34-year-old Ishant (2/19 in 4 overs), who is well past his prime, got his first chance and used his immense experience to take KKR back inside the ‘bowling powerplay’.
The 36-year-old Warner then showed his destructive avatar in the ‘batting powerplay’ hitting 10 fours to finish off the contest and give his side their first win of the tournament.
The way he swept, KKR’s two spinners Sunil Narine and Anukul Roy hardly had any answers. He hit a total of 11 fours.
The win hasn’t changed DC’s position in the points table as they are at the last spot, but the win will give them hope for a turnaround.
Once Warner won a good toss and opted to field, Ishant, playing his first IPL match in two seasons, blasted the target with 13 dot balls and just like yesterday, hit those immaculate three- Was hitting quarter length.
In rhythm, he still hits 140 clicks, but once he is done with his four overs, he collapses in the dug-out chair as Prithvi Shaw comes in as the ‘impact player’.
His India days are over now and Ishant would certainly like to remain an ‘IPL to IPL’ player till his body allows him to take the rigors of top-flight cricket.
Mukesh Kumar (1/34 in 4 overs) also bowled well in the Powerplay, while Akshar (2/13 in 3 overs), who did not enjoy a favorable match-up against left-handers, removed the dangerous Rinku Singh. Given as KKR lost wickets in bunches.
If Ishant, Mukesh, and Akshar were brilliant in the front 10, Kuldeep Yadav (2/15 in 3 overs), who dismissed Jason Roy (43 off 39 balls), was brilliant as he took on the batsmen in his unique style. created doubt in the mind. Speed.
The pitch had a generous shade of green and Anrich Nortje (2/20 in 4 overs) bowled a perfect Test match length the grass cover helped deflect a little as Venkatesh Iyer managed to hang his bat and ball. Standing at first slip, Mitchell went to Marsh.
No doubt it was the ball of the innings but credit goes to Ishant as he didn’t let Roy get away from a good start.
The moisture in the delayed start due to incessant drizzle also freshened up the track and the extra bounce caused little trouble to the batsmen.
Mukesh dismissed Liton Das, who missed the pull, and Ishant’s delivery to dismiss Nitish Rana lifted and he could not hold his lofted shot.
However, the wicket that completely changed the course was a slog sweep by Rinku and the ball had an extra bounce to take the top edge and flew at a comfortable height for Lalit Yadav to catch at deep square leg.
Once Rinku was gone, KKR’s batting unit seemed to be losing the battle in their heads as Andre Russell (38 not out off 31 balls), despite hitting four sixes, did enough to take his team to a par score. Could not, which was crossed. easily.