IPL 2018: Match 22- DD vs KXIP : Five talking points from the game

Kings XI won the last over encounter by 4 runs.

Kings XI Punjab won the atch by 4 runs | Source IANS

Kings XI Punjab won the match by 4 runs against the Delhi Daredevils at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, New Delhi. Ankit Rajpoot was awarded the Man of the Match for his attacking bowling perform that had shaken up Delhi's top order. Team Circle of Cricket gets down to list the 5 talking points of the match. Click on the links to get onto the next page.

 

Plunkett, Avesh jolt KXIP early

Plunkett picked up 3 wickets in hid DD debut. (IANS)
Kings XI Punjab had an unfavourable start to their innings as Plunkett and Avesh Khan unroll Punjab's top order batsman. They bowled so well that they took 3 wickets in the first 10 overs of the first innings. They were on point with their cutters and short deliveries.

Plunkett grabbed 3 wickets whereas Avesh Khan got 2 wickets on their debut IPL match. Both of the players had a brilliant IPL debut to restrict Punjab to score a big total. Punjab batsmen just threw their wicket away in a hurry which was one reason why they did not score runs on the board today.

 

Flop Show from the openers of KXIP 

KL Rahul failed by his standards in this match in the absence of Gayle. (IANS)
Kings XI Punjab had a change in their opening slot as Chris Gayle was left out due to a knee niggle that gave Aaron Finch a chance to open with KL Rahul. To everyone's thought, Kl Rahul was assumed to score runs but in contrary, he fell apart soon.

Rahul had a great start to his innings but Plunkett's delivery got the better of him. Kings XI Punjab was reduced to 85 for 4, they might be missing the Universe Boss in today's match. Due to lack of batting performance by all of the batsmen, KXIP only manages to put 143 runs on the board which was considered to very less for this small ground at New Delhi. 

 

Shaw, Maxwell fall to Rajpoot 

Ankit Rajpoot won the Man of the Match award in the game. (IANS)
Prithvi Shaw and Glenn Maxwell fell early to Ankit Rajpoot in a hurry where it was important for them to stick on the pitch. Ankit had full advantage of his pacey deliveries that took the wickets of Shaw and Maxwell. In a game like this, you expect your players to play sensibly but in return, Delhi players look short of some key players.

Gautam Gambhir, the captain of Delhi Daredevils has also not looked good batting after his first innings knock in IPL 2018. Gautam is the senior most player in Delhi's camp he needs to take responsibility, not get out early. Delhi Daredevils need to show up with their bat as in they have only managed to get only 1 win so far in this tournament.

 

Regular strike dents DD chase

Pant failed to stand up on DD's expectations. (IANS)
Kings XI Punjab kept on striking with the ball to get Delhi Daredevils batsmen out at regular intervals. This was the reason Delhi Daredevils were not able to capitalize on their batting. After the 12th over, they were shortened to 76/5 with Daniel Christian and Rishabh Pant back in the dugout.

Only Shreyas Iyer managed to bat till the end and fight till the last over of the match. It was heartbreaking for Delhi Daredevils because they came so close to a win but unfortunately, Punjab Kings had the last laugh in the last over the encounter. 

 

Kings XI Punjab won the match by 4 runs

KXIP topped the table(IANS)

Kings XI finally was able to defend 4 runs in the last over where they asked Delhi to get 17 in the last six balls. Shreyas Iyer tried his level best but was never over the line. Kings XI with this win has left Chennai behind to grab the first position on the points table whereas Delhi is still on the last with three consecutive losses.

Now as Delhi has lost one more match, they now need to win 7 out of 8 matches to qualify for the playoffs.

 
 

By Kunal Kataria - 23 Apr, 2018

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