IN BOLD CAPITALS: Delhi Capitals defeat Gujarat Titans handily to go up to sixth place
In today’s IPL match, the Delhi Capitals defeated the Gujarat Titans by six wickets in a low-scoring contest, thanks to the spinners of Rishabh Pant standing up for his kind and bringing some kind of balance back.
After getting hammered all over the field in the last few games, the bowlers finally had a say as DC, choosing to field first, hammered GT for 89 in 17.3 overs. With statistics of 3/14, Mukesh Kumar was DC’s most successful bowler; Ishant Sharma (2/8) and Tristan Stubbs (2/11) also claimed two wickets.
With a 24-ball 31, Rashid Khan was the only GT player to provide any kind of opposition.
After reaching 90, DC won their third game and improved their net run rate by finishing the formalities in only 8.5 overs.
Pant’s performance behind the stumps and leadership were also noteworthy that day. Pant was fast and deft, not only taking a fantastic grab diving full stretch but also pulling off a swift stumping. Given that the T20 World Cup is quickly approaching, Pant’s agility behind the wickets bodes well for Indian cricket. When the winning runs were scored, Pant (16 off 11 balls) was also in the middle of the field.
GT’s first goal of the inning came off a well timed overpitched ball by skipper Shubman Gill (8). Gill was given anything for free by Ishant Sharma. On a field that is being used for the first time this season and has been touted as a “100% black-soil” surface, the seasoned veteran struck on the very next ball when Gill chipped a fuller-length ball straight to Prithvi Shaw at cover.
Sai Sudharsan, 12, set up a rhythm with consecutive fours. After that, DC captain Rishabh Pant substituted Mukesh Kumar for Ishant. The spinner hit back with the sixth delivery of his opening over, forcing Wriddhiman Saha (2) to play on to his stumps.
Sumit Kumar, who replaced the injured David Warner in the game, displayed outstanding fielding to run out Sudharsan with a straight throw at the non-striker’s end.
DC was in full flow, and their captain set a great example by diving to brilliantly catch a ball from Ishant to dismiss the dangerous David Miller (2), leaving the home club down 30/4 after five overs.
Further problems were in store for the Titans, when Pant executed a brilliant stumping move to remove Abhinav Manohar from the game, forcing the host team to insert super sub Shahrukh Khan in the middle. The ploy did not succeed as Pant achieved another stumping even though he did not collect the ball cleanly, and Shahrukh was out on the very next ball.
Kuldeep Yadav was bowled out by Rashid for the lone six of the innings, but Mukesh broke the all-rounder’s resistance.
Quick scores
DC: 92/4 in 8.5 overs (Fraser-McGurk 20; Warrier 2/40, Rashid 1/12) against. GT: 89 all out in 17.3 overs (Rashid 31; Mukesh 3/14, Ishant 2/8)
The outcome on Tuesday
In 20 overs, KKR scored 223/6 (Raghuvanshi 30, Narine 109, Avesh 2/35, Kuldeep 2/46). 224/8 in 20 overs against. RR (Buttler 107*, Parag 36; Narine 2/30, Chakaravarthy 2/36)
