IPL 2019, KXIP vs DC: 5 key moments in the match
It was a great comeback, if there was ever one. Kings XI Punjab were all but done in their fourth match of IPL 2019. They were bowling to defend 23 runs in 21 balls against a well positioned Delhi Capitals, but somehow managed to stag a stunning recovery.
The team went on to win with 14 runs to spare as the crowd in Mohali erupted, while the Delhi dugout looked on in disbelief. Here are 5 key moments that went into making of the match:
1. David Miller gets going
David Miller packs a punch with his batting, but the firepower had been missing from his past couple of seasons in the IPL. He has looked good in this season so far though, and it was his innings that got Punjab going in this match.
The team will be looking to rely on the South African more over the course of the tournament, and be hoping that he stays at his attacking best for the remainder of the matches.
2. Ashwin takes out Shaw
Kings XI got off to a dream start in the second innings with skipper Ravichandran Ashwin taking the wicket of Prithvi Shaw on the very first ball.
While Ashwin was at his best throughout the match, taking the right calls as the captain and also effecting a stunning runout, the opening wicket was what set the tone for the chase.
3. Igram and Pant steady the ship
Rishabh Pant and Colin Ingram made it look easy for Delhi at one point. Scoring well at pace with the required run rate, they sent the Mohali crowd into deep silence with their smart batting.
Their partnership was looking dangerous with every progressing over as runs came in thick and fast. That is when a Delhi win looked like the writing on the wall.
4. Shami sends Pant packing
Pant was sent packing by Mohammed Shami after being hit for a six on the previous ball. Shami had the last laugh, and he also picked up another wicket in his next over. But it was his dismissal of Pant, who was looking dangerous, that was the real beginning of Delhi's collapse.
5. Curran's hat-trick heroics
The match, however, belonged to Englishman Sam Curran, who came out all guns blazing in his last two overs. He took out Colin Ingram, the last set batsman for Delhi, in the 18th over, before dismissing Harshal Patel on the last delivery of the same over.
The match had titled heavily in favour of Kings XI after the spectacular 18th over, but Curran came back with more intent and took another two wickets in the first two balls of the last over, completing his and IPL 2019's first hat-trick.
Delhi were denied in the end by the surprise channel attack from Shami and Curran, with Kings XI taking 7 wickets for 8 runs in that spell.
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