The second match of the IPL 2020 was played between Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Dubai International cricket stadium in Dubai. KL Rahul, KXIP’s new captain won the toss and chose to bowl first.
His decision was proved correct as Mohammad Shami picked his IPL career-best 3/15, as DC top order crumbled with Dhawan (0), Shaw (5), and Hetmyer (7) being dismissed with the score reading 13/3. Captain Iyer (39) and Pant (31) added 73 runs for the fifth wicket. But Bishnoi removed Pant and it seemed, DC might end up making 120 odd runs.
But then Marcus Stoinis slammed 53 in just 21 balls with 3 sixes and 7 fours, taking the final DC total to 157/8. Another debutant Sheldon Cottrell picked 2/24 as well.
IPL 2020: Cricket fraternity praises Mohammad Shami as he takes his career-best 3/15
In reply, KXIP started well with Rahul making 24 before falling to Mohit Sharma. Then R Ashwin picked two wickets of Nair and Pooran in one over to jolt KXIP’s progress and Rabada picked Maxwell for 1. Mayank stayed put and got some support from Gowtham who made 20.
Agarwal made a brilliant 89 off 60 balls with 4 sixes and 7 fours and shepherded the chase amazingly well with help of Chris Jordan in the end.
However, in a twist in the tale, Marcus Stoinis defended 13 runs in the over, getting rid of Mayank Agarwal and Chris Jordan in the last two balls with one run required to win, ending the match in a tie.
KXIP sent Rahul and Pooran as openers and after two runs off the first ball bowled by Kagiso Rabada, the South African pacer dismissed both the batsmen leaving DC needing 3 runs to win the match. Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer did the needful off Mohammad Shami’s over and Delhi Capitals pocketed the two points.
Here are some tweets:
