In the IPL 2024 season opener, Sam Curran led Punjab Kings to victory with an impressive half-century against Delhi Capitals at the newly built stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh. Despite a competitive total of 174/9 set by Delhi Capitals, with Abishek Porel’s quickfire 32 off 10 balls boosting their score after a shaky start at 147/8, Curran’s outstanding performance turned the tide. His 63 off 47 balls anchored the Kings’ chase, forming a crucial 67-run partnership with Liam Livingstone. Their efforts guided Punjab Kings to a thrilling four-wicket win, clinching victory with four deliveries remaining.
Encouraging Beginnings Despite Early Dismissals
In the exhilarating commencement of the chase, the batsmen, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow, wasted no time in making their mark, as evidenced by four boundaries unleashed in the opening over by Khaleel Ahmed. With two fours each, Dhawan and Bairstow seemed determined to set the pace for the Capitals’ pursuit of victory. Despite Dhawan’s initial flourish, the momentary promise was dimmed when the seasoned campaigner, Ishant Sharma, intervened. In a decisive move, Ishant outwitted Dhawan, who fell victim to his attempt to strike across the line, leaving the Capitals momentarily stunned. However, the Kings’ dynamic substitute, Prabhsimran Singh, swiftly stepped up to the challenge, replicating the feat with two well-timed boundaries of his own in the same over. Yet, fate intervened as Ishant’s deft touch deflected a ball onto the stumps, catching Bairstow short of his crease, and halting his momentum at the non-striker’s end.
Prabhsimran and Curran wrapped up the initial phase of the game well as the Kings reached 60/2. They continued to make steady advances even against spin, without facing much difficulty from Axar or Kuldeep. However, Kuldeep managed to dismiss Prabhsimran with a deceptive delivery, causing him to fall while attempting to hit over the long on boundary. At the halfway mark, the Kings’ score stood at 87/3, just one run ahead of the Capitals and also having lost one wicket more.
PBKS Maintain Momentum During the Chase
Jitesh Sharma narrowly escaped a stumping dismissal in the 11th over, thanks to a close call from the umpire while Sumit Kumar was bowling. However, luck was not on his side in the following over, as Rishabh Pant’s swift wicketkeeping skills led to Sharma’s stumping off Kuldeep’s delivery. Despite Kuldeep’s efforts, he couldn’t secure another wicket in his fourth over, with a missed opportunity when Tristan Stubbs couldn’t hold onto a catch at long on. Kuldeep’s bowling performance was commendable, ending with figures of 2-20. However, the Capitals faced a setback when Ishant Sharma sustained an injury after bowling just two overs. To compensate, Mitchell Marsh was given the ball for his third over, but he struggled as Sam Curran hit him for two fours and Liam Livingstone smacked a six, resulting in Marsh conceding 18 runs.
DC’s Effort Falls Short in the End
Curran scored fifty runs in the 16th over, a notable achievement. The Kings handled Axar well, who ended with figures of 0 wickets for 25 runs. Requiring 39 runs from 24 balls, they were in a good position, given the opposition’s weak pace attack. Progressing to 28 runs off 18 balls, Livingstone struck two fours off Khaleel. The 18th over saw Marsh conceding 18 runs, including sixes by Curran and Livingstone. Despite pressure, Khaleel dismissed Curran and Shashank Singh in successive deliveries. He missed a chance to dismiss Harpreet Brar, but Warner dropped the catch. With only six runs needed from Sumit’s final over, victory seemed certain. Livingstone secured the win with a six, sealing the Kings’ victory.
DC’s Opening Batsmen Provide Strong Start
On a pitch made of dark soil where bowlers found it hard to make an impact, there was little room for mistakes. This challenge was quickly understood by Punjab Kings. Mitchell Marsh seized the opportunity, capitalizing on deliveries directed at his pads by Sam Curran, scoring boundaries. Additionally, the allowance for two short deliveries per over didn’t pose much difficulty for the Kings. Both David Warner and Marsh easily dispatched them for sixes. Despite Marsh’s dismissal by Arshdeep Singh, Warner continued his aggressive play, even executing a scoop shot off a Rabada delivery for a six. As the powerplay ended, the Capitals stood at 54/1. Shai Hope took the initiative against spin, specifically targeting Rahul Chahar. Although Warner eventually fell to a slow delivery from Harshal Patel, the Capitals maintained their momentum, reaching 86/2 by the halfway mark of their innings.
PBKS Keep Taking Wickets Regularly
Warner’s departure in the eighth over brought Rishabh Pant to the crease, marking his return to active cricket after a 450-day absence due to a near-fatal accident in December 2022. Pant had some work to do after Hope fell to a slower delivery from Rabada. Pant also got lucky when Harshal failed to collect the ball properly after Pant played a pull shot. However, this missed opportunity didn’t cost much as Harshal managed to dismiss the Capitals’ skipper with a short-pitched delivery that lacked pace. In the 14th over, the Kings successfully used the Decision Review System (DRS) to send Ricky Bhui back to the pavilion, leaving the Capitals struggling at 111/5.
Abishek Porel’s significant contribution
The responsibility fell on Tristan Stubbs and Axar Patel to lead the Capitals to a good score. However, Stubbs was out after facing only eight deliveries while attempting a risky shot off Rahul Chahar. Then, a precise throw from substitute fielder Tanay Thyagarajan caught Axar short of the crease as he attempted a quick second run. This setback left the Capitals at 138/7 in the 18th over. With the situation demanding a strong finish, Porel stepped up. He showcased an impressive performance, hitting a boundary off Harshal in the 18th over. In the final over, he smashed two sixes and two fours off the same bowler, guiding the Capitals to a total past 170. However, the Capitals faced challenges due to their limited bowling options, which ultimately influenced the outcome of the match.
Match Summary: Delhi Capitals scored 174 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs, with Shai Hope contributing 33 runs and Abishek Porel remaining unbeaten at 32. Arshdeep Singh took 2 wickets for 28 runs. However, Punjab Kings chased down the target, scoring 177 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in just 19.2 overs. Sam Curran top-scored with 63 runs, while Liam Livingstone remained unbeaten on 38. Kuldeep Yadav took 2 wickets for 20 runs. Punjab Kings won the game by 4 wickets.
What’s next?
The Capitals will have a four-day break before their match against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on March 28. Meanwhile, the Kings will have a quicker turnaround, playing against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 25.
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