Twice in the match, it seemed that it’s all over for Delhi and Punjab have it in their grip. DC had just reached to 100 runs in 17 overs losing six of their top order wickets clearly heading towards a modest total. But a burst of boundaries and sixes from Stoinis helped him add 49 off the next 14 balls that he faced. It included seven boundaries and three massive hits. He was particularly severe on Jordan gathering 36 off his nine balls. This propelled Delhi to a competitive total of 157/8 in 20 overs.
DC lose early wickets
Earlier, Punjab captain KL Rahul opted to chase later under lights. The conditions had something to offer for the bowlers as they purchased extra bounce and swing from it. This resulted in a quiet powerplay and three wickets too. Shami was on fire as he utilized the bounce and swing to induce false shots from Shaw and Hetmyer. Shaw tried to loft through the line on a ball that was not full enough while Hetmyer closed his bat face early to give catch at covers off his edge.
Iyer-Pant partnership
Captain Iyer and Pant built on the innings steadily from there on as they completed a 73 run stand. Young Bishnoi broke the partnership when Pant went hard on his googly only to play it on to his stumps. Iyer played some delightful strokes specially the three sixes down the ground off Gowtham. As he was coming into his own, Rahul brought back his ace pacer of the day- Shami and he delivered him the wicket. The knuckle ball induced a mistimed shot as Iyer could not clear mid off. Shami finished with the career best figures of 3/15. Thereafter it was a one man show that gave Punjab the target of 158 at just under 8 an over to get.
Punjab lose wickets in heap
Rahul and Mayank started the innings steadily, Mayank being extra cautious initially, as they scored 28 in the first 4 overs. Then a beauty from Mohit went through the gate of Rahul. The inswinger got his inside edge and deflected on to the stumps. Ashwin in the next over- last of the powerplay- pouched two more. Nair edged a hoick to short fine while Pooran was castled off a gem. He played for the spin which was not there. Ashwin could not bowl any further as he injured his shoulder while diving. His spin partner Axar bowled equally well and gave away just 14 off his 4 overs.
Mayank show
KXIP were 55/5 in 10 overs with Mayank constant at one end while wickets were tumbling from the other. He forged a 46 run partnership with Gowtham, But Rabada accounted for Gowtham too, caught behind unable to cut the ball properly. With asking rate climbing high every over, Mayank decided to put his foot on the pedal and played some sweetly timed shots to boundary as well as for six. He gathered 17runs off Mohit’s 18th over with the help of two big hits. 12 from Rabada’s 19th over and a wrong call of short run from umpire meant Punjab would need 13 in the last over.
Stoinis to rescue again
Iyer trusted Stoinis to defend those 13 runs. But Mayank, batting on 77 off 55, had found his touch and he equalled the score with a six straight down, a couple to long on and a four towards midwicket. KXIP now needed just 1 run off last three ball. Fouth one was a dot and the next was a full toss but Mayank played it straight into hands of Hetmyer at deep point. He scored 89(60) with seven boundaries and four big hits. Jordan now needed just one off last ball- another full toss from Stoinis- and to his and everyone’s amazement, it’s flicked straight to Rabada at square leg. Score was tied and we needed a superover to decide the winner.
The superover
The 40 overs could not set the two teams apart, however, the superover was quite biased. After conceding a couple off first ball, Rabada bounced out Rahul off second and castled Pooran the next ball to set a target of just three for his team. Pant easily got a couple off flick after Shami had bowled a wide, to win the superover.
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