Hello All,
Welcome to Match 2 that will be played against Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab. Interesting match this, captained by two of India’s finest youngsters and both having future India captain possibilities- Shreyas Iyer and K.L. Rahul respectively.
IPL 2020: Match 2. DC vs KXIP
Live from- Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Time- 7:30 IST
Broadcast- Star Sports Network (1 English) and (3 Hindi) and Disney+hotstar for online streaming.
Umpires- Nitin Menon and Anil Chaudhary
3rd umpire- Paul Reiffel
Match official- Javagal Srinath
Teams-
Kings XI Punjab – Lokesh Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, Glenn Maxwell, Nicholas Pooran, Krishnappa Gowtham, Chris Jordan, Sheldon Cottrell, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami.
Delhi Capitals – Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Mohit Sharma.
Punjab having a team hurdle and it’s Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan to open the innings. Cottrell in his debut has been handled the ball. Umpire states play and the first ball is almost a beamer from Cottrell catching Shaw by surprise. Good bowling from Cottrell this even inducing an edge but it flies off the vacant slip area for a boundary and Shaw opens his account with DC. A single of the next and it’s 5/0 after 1.
Shami to bowl from the other end. Good start from Shami having good nip back and as always a great seam presentation. In his 4th ball its disaster for DC… Shami induces an edge down the leg off Dhawan but Rahul drops it… the ball moves a tad to his right, Dhawan tries to sneak off a single meanwhile Shaw gives no response at all in the other end. Rahul throws it a the striker end where Gowtham is present to whip off the bails and DC find them 1 down.. needless this from DC and Dhawan goes for a duck.
Hetmyer in at 3… first ball huge shot short caught behind, no movement from the umpire and neither do KXIP review. There was certainly a sound but not of ball kissing the bat as there was daylight between. The next ball Shami bangs it in short and Hetmyer goes for a pull only managing to sky it and its dropped again!! This time its Gowtham. Early drama here even good content to write- A dropped catch leading to a run-out, huge appeal not to be given and another dropped catch but no run-outs this time… Shami on fire.
Cottrell to continue and bowls an excellent over to his countryman giving just a single on the last ball. Shami to bowl his second, just his third ball and this time its time for Prithvi Shaw to get back into the dugout! Shami is fired up, bangs in another shot of good length and wide outside off not the proper ball to play the pull and Jordan does not drop this who was placed on mid-on. The next ball Shami bowls a short one this time and Hetmyer pulls it’s for a boundary with full authority, the next delivery – Another soft dismissal this.
Hetmyer trying to play the on-side closes his bat-face early and an easy catch for Mayank placed in the covers. It’s a disastrous start for DC reduced to 13/3 after 4. Jordan is introduced into the attack, Pant and Iyer have to take the responsibilities on their shoulders to get DC to a decent total. 8 runs from that over and 21/3 after 5. Shami to continue… KXIP smell blood here, breaking this partnership will start the tail of DC and they are going for the kill. Another great over from Shami giving away just 2 runs and its 23/3 after the end of Powerplay.
Extremely slow start this from DC but its rebuilding time or can Punjab further dent into DC’s hope of getting to a respectable total. Gowtham comes in to bowl his first and gives just 4 singles in his first. Jordan to continue and gives 5 singles. Gowtham back to bowl his second and this time Pant goes low and hits a sweep for a boundary almost going for a maximum, it was about time after few quite overs, Iyer on strike and hits it in top tier. In his arc and Iyer does not miss out, big over this from DC getting some momentum back – 13 from it and it’s strategic time-out!
Good partnership brewing between Iyer and Pant this, they will be hoping for a target around 150 on this pitch after the early collapse. 45/3 after 9 overs. It’s the debutant and the hero of India’s U-19 – Ravi Bishnoi to bowl his first an excellent first over just 4 from it, Pant playing his mind games but Bishnoi was up for the challenge. It’s 49/3 after the end of 10 overs.
Spin from both ends continues, Gowtham bowls a 7 run over. Bishnoi back and Pant tries to hit him out of the park, induces a thick outside edge and goes for a boundary through vacant slip area. Lucky there Pant, but DC will take it. 8 runs from that over and the pair bring their 50 run partnership. Good steady innings from the young talents.
Gowtham back to bowl his last and his last 2 balls are hit out of the park by Iyer. Iyer showing his class, he sure is a good player of spin, whack both 6’s over long-on. DC getting their move on. Gowtham had a disappointing day giving away 39 runs from his 4. Bishnoi back to bowl his 3rd and this time he gets the danger man- Pant out! Bowls a wrong’un spinning away and Pant ends up dragging the ball back into the stumps via a thick inside edge. His maiden IPL wicket and it’s a big one.
DC were setting up the momentum but Punjab have applied the breaks! Shami back to bowl his final over and 1st ball gets rid of the dangerous Iyer. 2 in 2 for Punjab and they are right back in this. Poor shot selection at this stage from Iyer. The mid-on was up, tries to clear it but all he could manage was to hit it straight to the handoff Jordan who did not have to move an inch. DC reeling now at 87/5.
Shami gives away just 7 from his last and finishes with 3/15 from 4. Good seam bowling spell from Shami. Strategic timeout is taken. DC has lost all the momentum they had gathered by losing 2 in 2 and both set batsman out. 2 new batsmen in the crease and score reading 93/5 after 15 it’s advantage Punjab!
Stoinis and Axar in the crease, Bishnoi to bowl his final over and ends giving just 3 from it. Ending with 1/22 from his 4. It’s 96/6 after 16. Cottrell back to bowl and gets Axar first ball. Again a wicket reading caught behind bowled down the leg. Good catch by Rahul there and DC in deep trouble here. Cottrell finishes his 3rd with just 4 coming from it and DC reach their 100. Its 100/6 after 17. Jordan to bowl his 3rd… and Stoinis sends it over cow cover for a maximum. Misses hi yorker and Stoinis does not miss out there.
The next ball bowls a low full toss, Stoinis just manages to get some bat in the end and the ball goes past the leg stump beating short fine leg for another boundary. Luck there Stoinis. Jordan ends well giving just 3 from his 4 … 13 from that over and DC 113/6 after 18. Cottrell back to bowl his last and it’s Stoinis again getting 3 boundaries back to back.
KL having a word with his bowler and Stoinis seems to get DC to a respectable total. 14 runs from 5 balls, Ashwin to face the final ball… Cottrell bangs it in short, Ashwin connects well with an uppercut but its straight in the hands of Shami placed at third man. Can’t keep Shami out of action tonight. DC reach 127/7 after 19.
Rabada in, DC would hope that Stoinis gets to retain maximum strike as he’s hitting them hard. Jordan to bowl the final over – Stoinis on strike, first ball and Stoinis tonks it for a maximum, Stoinis has other plans here. He has come out blazing tonight. Next ball, edged and another boundary, Stoinis nor DC mind how the runs keep coming… 3rd ball and 4 more, ohh Stoinis is loving it! Tries the yorker, misses and hit down the leg for a boundary. 4th ball, make it a hat-trick of 4’s.
Bowls on the off stump line and gets drilled over extra cover. 5th ball and Stoinis dispatches it for another maximum! What a turn around this- Stoinis has scored a 20 ball 50!!! Everyone applauds the effort put in. The final ball coming up, Stoinis misses to hit a boundary on this one tries for a second run but is run out by a mile. There was never a second there but it was the last ball so they try to scamper through but well well drama again… seems like Jordan has overstepped. Though, the runout stands and Stoinis has to depart.
Last ball free hit and Nortje clears the infield and they come back for 3. Expensive last over there from Jordan. 30 runs were scored from it and DC will be more than happy with that, all thanks to Stoinis special! DC end with 157/8.
Punjab started off well with the ball having DC in trouble with 13-3, they Iyer and Pant stitched a 50+ partnership to raise DC’s hope, but alas not to be Bishnoi and Shami go them in quick succession and DC were looking for a below-par score but then enters Stoinis. Exceptional batting especially in the 3 overs where they scored 57 runs and a quickfire 50 from Stoinis has brought some life into this match. Stoinis getting a good score unlike his RCB days and Jordan certainly felt his RCB days back. Can DC get on with this momentum or can Punjab chase it down?
Innings Break: IPL Match 2: DC vs KXIP
K.L. Rahul and Mayank Agarwal to open the innings for Punjab and Nortje for DC. Excellent 1st over from Nortje, Just 1 run from the bat and a boundary via leg bye. 5/0 after 1 Punjab. Mohit Sharma to bowl for the other end. 2nd ball he bowls is a no-ball. Free hit and Rahul dispatches it for a maximum. Ends his over well it’s 14/0 after 2. Rabada comes in as 1st change and starts off with a wide… rest of the over goes uneventful. 19/0 after 3. Change of ends of Nortje and Rahul greets with a boundary. The next ball Nortje bowls a beauty squaring Rahul up but Rahul responds with another boundary.
Rahul seems to continue his fine form from the NZ series. At end of 4th over it’s 28/0. Mohit Sharma to continue.. Iyer mixing his bowlers and Mohit delivers, get the big fish – KL Rahul. Good in swinger this, Rahul tries to flick it but only manages to miss it and the ball shatters the stumps. DC make early inroads. Nair in to bat at 3. 5 runs scored from it and Punjab 33-1 after 5. Ashwin former KXIP captain comes into bowl and gets a wicket off his first ball! Nair sweeps hard, gets a top edge and Shaw takes a comfortable catch.
Pooran to bat at no. 4 and Ashwin strikes again! Oh isn’t he loving getting back at his old franchise. Bowls a tossed up delivery, Pooran leans forward the extra bounce does him in, brushes the pad and hits the top of off. Excellent delivery for Ashwin! Punjab has now lost their 3rd and its 35/3 after 6 overs. Ashwin seems to have dislocated his shoulder there while stopping the ball. The Physio is out. Does not look good for DC and Ashwin. He leaves the field after an excellent 1st over.
Maxwell and Mayank need to build a partnership here like Iyer and Pant did for DC. Rabada back into action and he gets rid of Maxwell. Nothing short from Maxwell, tries to loft the ball plays it early and easy catch for Iyer at mid off. Sarfaraz comes into bat at 6. Slip in place, DC on attack here, and first ball – edged and goes through the gap between first slip and keeper. Punjab now at 40-4 after 7.
Axar to bowl his first over and gives just 3 runs. Stoinis into the attack. Seems like Ashwin is out for the match, big blow for DC. Stoinis gives 9 runs in his first. Punjab reach their 50 and its time for Strategic time out. DC have bowled well and Punjab losing 4 wickets have just made the chase harder for them. Mayank and Sarfaraz look to build a partnership.
Axar back to bowl and gets Sarfaraz this time. The run rate was climbing, Sarfaraz tries to go for a maximum but is holed out at long-on. Easy catch for Shaw. Punjab in trouble here. 55/5 after 10. Gowtham comes in next. Stoinis and Axar bowl in tandem and give just 13 from 2 overs. Nortje back into attack and Mayank gets into attack mode 12 from that over and it’s 80-5 after 13 overs. Axar to bowl his last and Gowtham seems struggling to make contact, just 4 from it and Axar finishes with 1/14 from 4.
Excellent and economical spell. 84/5 after 14. Mohit Sharma back and Gowtham greets him with a 6 and a 4, with 14 coming from that over finally, Punjab get a move on. 98/5 after 15. Rabada back to bowl his 3rd. Gets Gowtham on his 3rd… the pressure of run-rate gets him.. shuffles around goes for the cut, gets a slight tickle to keeper and pant does not miss it. KXIP take the Strategic Timeout. It’s all up to Mayank now. He will have to play like how Stoinis did for DC. He is running out of partners. Needs to get a move on. 57 needed from 27 balls.
Rabada gives just 7 from it when required run-rate is 12 excellent bowling this from one of the best out there. Nortje comes into bowl the 17th. Mayank picks him out and scores 2 boundaries with a total of 11 coming from that over. Mohit Sharma back to bowl his last. First ball and bang! Mayank dispatches it for a maximum and also brings up his 50! Another slower ball and Mayank again goes for the maximum this time over long on… Mayank is turning this around for Punjab. 17 scored in that over and the equation is 25 needed from 12.
Can Mayank and Jordan take Punjab over the line? A close game this… its Nail chewing time! Rabada to bowl his last. Full and straight yorker from Rabada, Mayank cant do anything. Next ball dispatches it for a boundary straight back down the ground. 3rd ball they take a double but umpire calls Jordan short! Pressure this but Mayank is on strike. A miscue from Mayank and Iyer was positioned right under it but he drops it! would you believe it! Would this be the game-changing moment? Iyer got both his hands but the ball burst through it and also goes for a boundary! 12 runs scored at the end. It’s 145/6 at the end of 19 overs. 13 need of the final over!
It’s Stoinis to bowl the final over… He helped DC get to this score now can he restrict Punjab from getting there is the question that would be answered from the next six balls.1st ball and Mayank tonks it over the bowlers head for a maximum. Mayank is looking in great nick here. Next ball excellent yorker this but still Mayank manages to get 2 from it. Another boundary the next ball, Mayank has almost single-handedly taken Punjab home. Scores level. Just 1 needed from 3 balls.
Stoinis bowls a short one. Mayank looks at the umpire and its a dot ball. The field being brought in by Iyer. Mayank goes for the glory shot and gets caught in the deep by Hetmyer who was the only fielder outside the ring! Ohh the agony… Mayank is distraught as he could not get his team over the line.. he goes for a magnificent 89 from just 60 balls.
This certainly brought back memories of India vs Bangladesh match from WT20 World Cup, 2016. Last ball, Jordan on strike can he get the single or will Stoinis get the last laugh… Stoinis runs in, bowls a full toss on leg stump and Jordan hits it straight in the hands of Rabada who does not drop it! It’s a Tie! OMG! Punjab what have u done? Just 1 needed from 3 and to end in a tie, such a funny game this! Stoinis is the man again causing Punjab the pain. We have the first tie this IPL 2020, time for Super Over.
Punjab to bat first, surely Rahul and Mayank to open the innings again, but surprise it Rahul and Pooran, no sign of Mayank. Rabada to bowl for DC.
Ball 1- Rabada to Rahul – 2 runs, flicked off the legs to deep backward square.
Ball 2- Rabada to Rahul – Out! Rahul departs! Rahul gives room, Rabada follows him with a short ball and no room, Rahul only manages a top edge and straight into the hands of Axar. Its 2-1, 4 balls left. Maxwell comes out at 3.
Ball 3- Rabada to Pooran – Pooran goes for a wild swing, misses it completely and the ball has take off the off stump. Pooran gets a pair! in a T20 game. Again out for a duck.
Punjab finish with just 2 runs! excellent bowling from the death specialist – Rabada and he does not disappoint. DC need just 3 to win. This also makes the lowest total in a super over in IPL history. Well Punjab probably forgot it’s a super over and just played a mini over there.
Shami to bowl for Punjab, Pant and Iyer for DC.
Ball 1- Shami to Pant – Short and wide, Pant tries for the uppercut, misses and a dot ball to start with.
Ball 2- Shami to Pant- Wide down the leg side. 1 run gifted.
Ball 2- Shami to Pant – Full into the toes of Pant, he squeezes it to fine leg and gets 2. That’s it. DC win the superover!
Well DC will take the win. What a game this! Punjab starting great with the ball DC looking to head nowhere and then in comes Stoinis – 53 of just 21 balls and gets the team to a decent enough total. Punjab starts well but then were reduced to 55/5 in 10. Mayank Agarwal gave his all, batted till the end scoring a brilliant 89 from just 60 balls.
But then when just as 1 was required from 2 balls he perishes and Jordan having a nightmare of a game falls in the end. Meanwhile, Stoinis having all his stars aligned pulls off a tie! Punjab had a disaster in the super over, all credit to Rabada keeping his cool under pressure and delivering when it mattered. Shami tried but the total was easily chased.
Awards- IPL 2020: Match 2- DC vs KXIP
Marcus Stoinis – Dream11 game-changer of the match.
Marcus Stoinis – Altroz super striker of the match.
Mayank Agarwal – Unacademy – Let’s crack it.
Ravi Ashwin – Cred power player of the match.
Marcus Stoinis – Man of the Match.
That brings us to the end of Chapter 2. A super over just in the second chapter. Awaiting more fireworks in IPL 2020.
Watch the Match Highlights here- IPL 2020: Match 2- DC vs KXIP
Stay tuned for Chapter 3 coming up next. Till then Happy Reading! Ciao!
Vivek Nair
