IPL 2024: Sam Curran’s Impactful Performance Leads Punjab Kings to Victory
In a thrilling IPL 2024 encounter, Sam Curran’s explosive 63 off 47 balls proved decisive as Punjab Kings clinched a four-wicket victory against Delhi Capitals at their newly inaugurated home ground in Mullanpur.
Ishant Sharma hurt his ankle and had to leave the field after bowling just two overs, leaving the Capitals one bowler short.
Delhi Capitals 174 for 9 (Hope 33, Porel 32*, Arshdeep 2-28, Harshal 2-47) were defeated by Punjab Kings 177 for 6 (Curran 63, Livingstone 38*, Kuldeep 2-20, Khaleel 2-43) by four wickets.
At their new home field in Mullanpur, Punjab Kings began their IPL 2024 campaign with a four-wicket victory over Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone, spoiling Rishabh Pant‘s comeback attempt.
The Delhi Capitals chose to insert Abishek Porel as the Impact Player in the 18th over, after being sent in at 137 for 7. Porel helped them reach 174 for 9 after smashing 32 off just ten balls.
However, it also meant that during the chase, the Capitals would have few bowlers. They were further set behind by Ishant Sharma’s injury, as he injured his ankle in just two overs of bowling.
The Kings’ chase was off to a good start with Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow, but both fell in the fourth over. After then, Kuldeep Yadav got rid of Jitesh Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh to keep the Capitals in the match.
After that, though, Curran and Livingstone took control, adding 67 runs in 42 balls for the fifth wicket. Livingstone stayed to the very end, hitting a powerful six with four balls remaining in the game after Curran was removed in the 19th over after scoring 63 off 47.
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Warner and Marsh Made the Most of the Powerplay
The Capitals got off to a quick start when David Warner and Mitchell Marsh opened the inning in place of Prithvi Shaw. Marsh started off quickly, smashing two fours off of Curran’s first two balls that he faced. In the next over, Warner got involved and hit Arshdeep Singh for a six and a four.
Marsh then struck sixes off Arshdeep and Kagiso Rabada, respectively. After driving Arshdeep to cover-point, where Rahul Chahar made an accurate overhead grab, he fell for 20 off 12.
As the Capitals concluded the powerplay at 54 for 1, Warner continued to bat aggressively and even flick-scooped Rabada for a six. Shai Hope, making his IPL debut, glided down the track and lofted Chahar for a straight six in the seventh over.
At that point, it was all Capitals, but Harshal Patel saved the Kings by luring Warner with a slower bouncer.
Pant’s first Outing Following His Mishap
Pant came to the crease after Warner was dismissed, and the Mullanpur crowd gave him a standing ovation. Pant appeared a little rusty in his first competitive game in fifteen months. When Harshal misplaced the ball in the sun at deep midwicket and ended up giving a four, he was awarded a life on four.
Pant then drove Harshal for his second boundary, as if to make a point. But Harshal threw a slower bouncer two balls later, which Pant missed and ended up bouncing to backward point. On a return, he finished his first batting appearance with 18 off 13 balls.
Impact Player Porel Delivered An Impactful Innings
Capitals were further damaged by Harpreet Brar and Chahar. While attempting an inside-out shot against Chahar, Tristan Stubbs holed out to long-off, and Brar got Ricky Bhui caught down the leg side.
With 2.5 overs remaining and Axar Patel out for a second run, the Capitals were down to 137 for 7. However, Porel, who entered as the Impact Player, struck hard at a wide-and-short delivery from Harshal and managed to pick up a boundary to deep third.
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The Capitals were 149 for 8 after 19 overs. As Harshal bowled the final over, Kings anticipated keeping Capitals below 160. However, at that point, Porel made the decision to speak up and blasted three fours and two sixes in the final over, which was worth 25 runs.
Capitals are now 174 for 9 as a result. The Capitals’ chances of winning were 38.9% according to ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster at the beginning of the twentieth over. Porel raised that percentage to 56.7% by himself.
Bairstsow and Dhawan Dealt In Boundaries
Similar to the Capitals’ openers, Dhawan and Bairstow got off to a good start. They scored 34 runs and smashed a total of six fours in the first three overs. But the fourth over saw both fall. As Dhawan lunged towards Ishant, he was bowled, and at the other end of the non-striker’s end, Bairstow was run out as a drive from Prabhsimran smacked into the stumps, brushing a diving Ishant’s fingers.
However, Prabhsimran tucked one towards midwicket in the sixth over, and Ishant charged and fielded it. However, he had to be helped off the field after twisting his right ankle just as he was ready to throw.
Kuldeep Kept Capitals In The Game
Prabhsimran attempted to score a lot against Kuldeep in the tenth over, but he was bowled out to long-on for a 17-ball 26 that featured five fours. Jitesh tried a reverse sweep in the spinner’s next over, but he failed to hit the ball, lost his balance, and went out of his crease. Pant shattered the wickets with his alertness behind the stumps.
Kuldeep concluded with a 2 for 21 record. Curran was on 33 when Tristan Stubbs, sprinting to his right from long-on, took him down. He could have easily picked up a third.
Curran and Livingston Took Control
After Curran and Livingstone hit Marsh for eighteen runs in the final six overs, Kings just needed sixty-three to settle their jitters.
The Capitals were still in the hunt when they needed 28 runs in three overs. But Pant was forced to bowl Marsh again as Ishant left the field. After giving up another 18, he finished with 52 from his four overs without a wicket.
Khaleel dismissed Curran and Shashank Singh off consecutive deliveries in the 19th over, but it was already too late. It didn’t help that Warner dropped Brar on the final ball of the Khaleel over.
Sumit Kumar, making his IPL debut, stood little chance against a set Livingstone with just six needed from the final over. After two wides to begin, Livingstone hit him over deep midwicket to complete the victory.
