Delhi Daredevils thrash Kings XI Punjab by nine wickets

Tags: Indian Premier League 2015, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab

Published on: May 01, 2015

Kings XI Punjab put up an insipid batting display while Delhi Daredevils came up with an equally commanding all-round show to dismantle Punjab by a comprehensive nine-wicket margin at Ferozshah Kotla on Friday

Kings XI Punjab put up an insipid batting display while Delhi Daredevils came up with an equally commanding all-round show to dismantle Punjab by a comprehensive nine-wicket margin at Ferozshah Kotla on Friday. Daredevils won the toss and chose to field, and from thereon, they never put a foot wrong. Nathan Coulter-Nile and comeback man Zaheer Khan led the way for Delhi as the hosts were restricted to 118 for 8. With a mediocre total to chase, Delhi came out all guns blazing. Openers Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Iyer hit half-centuries and featured in a century stand, as Delhi kept their campaign alive.


Zaheer made a perfect return to the IPL, dismissing both Punjab openers in single-figure scores. The Virender Sehwag vs Zaheer clash was much anticipated, but it only lasted a few balls. Sehwag was caught by Angelo Mathews at point second ball. In his second over, he sent back the other opener Manan Vohra for 1, caught behind by Kedar Jadhav off a mistimed pull. JP Duminy opened the bowling from the other end, and dealt Punjab with a massive blow, trapping Shaun Marsh lbw for 5 with a quicker ball. In three overs, Duminy and Khan had reduced Punjab to 3 for 10, but worse was to follow.


Coulter-Nile came in and continued to keep Punjab under the pump. He had Wriddhiman Saha caught behind very early in his spell with a good outswinger. The scoreboard hadn't moved even as the number in the wickets column changed. Coulter-Nile did not stop there. He sent back the dangerous Thisara Perera for 3. At the other end, Amit Mishra chipped in with the big wicket of skipper George Bailey. The Punjab captain was looking good on 18, with three fours when Mishra trapped him lbw. In less than 10 overs, Punjab were reduced to 6 for 45.


The only semblance of resistance for Punjab came from David Miller and Axar Patel. With 10 overs to play, they moved the ball around, and got the innings some sort of respectability. At one stage, it seemed Punjab would not even reach three figures. But, thanks to the partnership between Miller and Patel, Punjab finished on 118 for 8. Miller made a steady 42 from 41 balls while Patel made 22 from 26. Both fell in the penultimate over, going for big hits against Coulter-Nile.


With no pressure on them, the Delhi openers Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Iyer came in and adopted an aggressive approach. Shardul Thakur was crunched for fours over third man early on by Iyer, and he never looked back after that. At the other end, Agarwal also got going as Punjab gave up the match. There was some consolation for them as Iyer chipped one to Axar off Thakur’s bowling. But, he had 54 from 40 by then. Agarwal remained unbeaten on 52 from 40 as Delhi revived their campaign with a memorable triumph.


--By A Cricket Correspondent

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