IPL 2017: Delhi Daredevils 67 all out, Kings XI Punjab win by 10 wickets

Opener Martin Guptill struck an unbeaten 50 as Kings XI Punjab capped their bowlers’ domination of Delhi Daredevils with a 10-wicket win in their IPL 2017 clash at the PCA Stadium on Sunday.

Pace bowler Sandeep Sharma captured four for 20 as Glenn Maxwell’s team routed Delhi Daredevils for 67 in 17.1 overs. Guptill and fit-again Hashim Amla (16 no) then guided Kings XI Punjab to 68 for no loss in 7.5 overs.

Delhi Daredevils slumped to their lowest IPL total. Their earlier lowest was 80 all out in 19.1 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013. The result lifted Kings XI Punjab to fifth spot in the IPL points table, while Delhi Daredevils languish at the bottom.

DD’s batting flop

Karun Nair led Delhi Daredevils in place of injured skipper Zaheer Khan, but the batsman’s struggles only added to the team’s batting misery as just three reached double figures.

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Martin Guptill’s 27-ball half century included six fours and three sixes while Hashim Amla was happy to play the supporting role.

DD outplayed

Delhi Daredevils batting unravelled against a disciplined Kings XI Punjab bowling attack. Sandeep Sharma took a stunning return catch, low to his left to dismiss Shreyas Iyer (6) and claim his third wicket in only the fifth over, dashing Delhi Daredevils’ hopes of putting up a decent total.

Despite boasting of a strong bowling line-up, Delhi Daredevils were unlikely to emulate the KXIP pacers, be it checking the flow of runs or taking early wickets. Guptill hammered Mohammed Shami for two fours in the first over and hit Kagiso Rabada for two fours before carting Chris Morris and Amit Mishra for a six each to complete a comprehensive win.

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Kings XI Punjab bowlers, led by Sandeep Sharma, redeemed themselves, after a Friday night flop show against holders Sunrisers Hyderabad, to bundle out Delhi Daredevils for a paltry total.

Kings XI Punjab made four changes with Tamil Nadu’s left-arm pacer T Natarajan, Varun Aaron and Sandeep Sharma drafted in, besides Hashim Amla.

Sandeep, who took the new ball, accounted for Sam Billings off the last ball of the first over. It was downhill for DD from there as they were reduced to 33 for 6.

Sanju Samson fell trying to work the ball towards midwicket, only to lob a catch to Mohit Sharma at mid-on. Karun Nair’s torrid run continued. The Test triple centurion had scores of 4, 0, 21, 33, 5, and 15 before Sunday. He again missed the line, beaten as Axar Patel got one to spin away and hit off-stump.

Sandeep’s superb effort to get rid of Shreyas Iyer showed Kings XI Punjab’s intent. Iyer drove a good length ball only for Sandeep to dive to his left and hold the catch inches off the ground. Maxwell also joined the party, removing the aggressive Rishabh Pant (3).

When Delhi Daredevils finally reached 50 in the 12th over, they must have heaved a sigh of relief as they went past the lowest IPL total --- Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 49 against Kolkata Knight Riders a few days back. Varun Aaron took two for three runs and Axar took 2/22.