Match Review-Delhi Capitals Vs Kings XI Punjab-Match No.2-IPL 2020

 Welcome back to another match review of the Dream 11 IPL matches.  Today the Match analysis is about the 2nd match which was held between the Delhi Capitals and the Kings XI Punjab.  KL Rahul had his debut in the IPL as a captain.  The match was played in Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.  The pitch had so much to offer the new ball bowlers.  Obviously Spinners favoured themselves in the middle overs but today's game changers were the new ball bowlers, the pitch had a decent amount of grass on it, which made both the pace and bounce of the ball unpredictable.  There were sometimes when the ball never reached the keeper as it had no pace in it, and sometimes surprised the keeper with plenty of pace in it.  So without further delay let us get into the match analysis.

1.  The Toss:

            The toss was won by debut captain KL Rahul who followed the Chase policy by opting to bowl first.  Even though Iyer also wanted to bowl in the grassy green surface, the toss went in the favour of KL Rahul.

KL Rahul Had A Good Start To His IPL Career As A Captain As He Won The Toss.

  Young leggie, Ravi Bishnoi made his IPL debut, and Maxwell made his comeback to KXIP and Krishnappa Gowtham made his debut for the team, Sheldon Cottrell made his IPL debut, Chris Jordan made his debut for the Kings XI Punjab.

             As Far as Delhi Capitals are concerned, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravi Ashwin, Marcus Stoinis and Mohit Sharma made their respective debuts for Delhi Capitals whereas Anrich Nortje made his debut in the IPL.  

2.  First Innings:

              Delhi Batted in the first innings and green surfaces were not helping their players.  Shikhar Dhawan had a worst start to his IPL season as he was run out for a Duck.  Then Mohammed Shami Dismissed both Prithvi Shaw and Hetmyer to get the score to 13 for three in 4 overs.

Shami Had A Fantastic Night, As He Registered His Best Bowling Figures.

  Captain Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant then built a 73 partnership off 60 balls.  The Score was 86 after 14 overs.  Following his fellow team mate Shreyas Iyer too threw his wicket to Mohammed Shami.  After Iyer got out, Axar Patel Joined Australian all rounder Marcus Stoinis in the wicket and Axar got dismissed for 6 runs.  Then Ravichandran Ashwin joined Marcus Stoinins and they built a small thirty run stand in which Marcus Stoinis was the major contributor scoring 27 for his part.  Stoinis had got set and was sending the Kings XI bowlers out of the park. 

              What continued was a rampant display of cricket from Marcus Stoinis.  As he completed his 50 in 20 balls. 

Game Changer With Both Bat And Ball..

Then in the last ball of the first innings Stoinis was run out trying to get a two.  But there was more drama as Chris Jordan had bowled a no ball.  Jordan had already gave away 27 runs in the 20th over.  Anrich Nortje Swung his bat hard and he along with Rabada ran three to make the score 157/8 at the end of 20 overs.  The Delhi Capitals had reached this score thanks to only one man that is Marcus Stoinis.  He was on absolute rampage and was not giving any chance to Jordan.  And Delhi had registered an unbelievable score of 157 and let the Kings XI Punjab to chase a difficult total of 158.  I was sure that the Kings had someone to stay till the end if they have to pull this chase off.  So let us get to the Second Innings now.

3.  Second Innings:

                 KXIP came on with a misson to chase down 158 and start a glorious campaign.  Rahul and Mayank started off steadily but heartbreak was waiting for them as Mohit Sharma sent Rahul back to the pavilion for 21.  After that nothing was in the hand of KXIP, with Mayank Agarwal adding runs at Snail's pace KXIP slowly started to lose their batsmen and the score after 10 overs was 55/5.  Mayank Agarwal was still there at the crease and he was set to blow off.  And the same thing happened, his Kannadiga partner Krishnappa Gowtham showed some resistance and support as Mayank started to make quick runs.  KXIP scored 46 off the next 33 deliveries to get their score over 100, but once again Mayank was left stranded after the dismissal of Gowtham.

               After Gowtham's dismissal the Kings had to get another 57 runs and support came for Mayank from the side of Jordan who was looking to do something.  The Agarwal we say in the next 27 balls was awesome, from 101/6 in 15.3 overs Agarwal then took them to 157/8 in 19.3 overs, mere twenty balls, in which Jordan had eaten up 5 balls to get 5 runs.  So, Agarwal had scored a 50 off 15 balls in the last 5 overs.  It was this performance which got them to the winning position but drama was still there.

Mayank MasterStroke!

  When Stoinis came into bowl, it was already Punjab's game to lose.  13 was required off 6 balls and Stoinis, who started the last over saga came on to end it as well.  But Agarwal had different ideas, he put the match into grave as he smashed the ball into the long off region, now it was 7 off 5 then Agarwall got two off a yorker from stoinis.  5 was then required off 4 balls.  And what Agarwal did was fantastic he moved towards the leg side and smashed it through the covers, Mohit sharma gave a long sprint to the ball but he couldn't get to it.

               Agarwal had great luck into his innings as he was dropped a few times but anyhow he used this luck really well.  Agarwal then had to get a single to pull off a mind blowing win for the Kings.  But he missed out the short ball from stoinis.  Still the game was in favour of the Kings but what happened next was unbelievable, Stoinis bowled a wide full toss and Agarwal placed it straight into the hands of Shimron Hetmyer.

The Glory Shot!!

  Agarwal was distraught, broken, dissappointed.  Then Jordan had crossed over and he had his moment to pull off a victory in his debut for the team.  Stoinis once again bowled a low full toss and Jordan hit it straight into the hands of Rabada.  What a game!  Delhi have come back from the dead, just like Undertaker.  The match tied and Super over was coming. 

                   KXIP made a horrendous decision by allowing Nicolas Pooran to bat with Rahul.  Everyone watching in their houses wanted Maxwell.  Rahul hit Rabada for 2 off the first ball, and then played a disastrous shot to throw his wicket away.  Maxwell finally came in, but he was on the Non-Striker's end.  Pooran had crossed over and had to face the third ball, he lost his mind and Swung his bat all over the place and Rabada didn't miss he bowled it straight into the popping crease and the Stumps were all over the place. 

Yes, from a point where KXIP were inches away from a victory had slipped in to all out for 2 runs in the Super Over.  Agarwal was distraught, and he had paid the price for failing to finish the game inside 20 overs.  

                    Delhi then came on to bat with 3 runs to get.  Shami was the bowler bowling for Kings XI Punjab.  Pant missed the first ball and the second was a wide and the third ball, Pant ran it down for 2 and DC easily won the Super Over.  From a point when everything looked against them, DC have come back thanks to Agarwal who tried the fancy finish and got out.  

Final Summary:

                    Here are the Brief Scores of last night's game:

                    DC: 157/8 20 overs ; 3/0 (Super Over)

                     Marcus Stoinis: 53(21) ; Shreyas Iyer: 39(32)

                     KXIP: 157/8 20 overs ; 2/2 (Super Over)

                      Mayank Agarwal: 89(60) ; KL Rahul 21(19)

If you have not seen the match review for the MI vs CSK match then click the link Match Review-Mumbai Indians Vs Chennai Super Kings-IPL 2020.