KXIP vs DC IPL 2019: Curran hat-trick triggers another unbelievable Punjab win

In a nutshell both teams continued their habits. Punjab stormed back in the game from nowhere and defended a total which for most part looked too small while Delhi continued to lose track of a chase after doing so well to get there.

Finally it was an inspired bowling performance by Mohammad Shami and Sam Curran who got a hat-trick that denied Delhi two points and enabled Punjab to register another thrilling win in IPL 2019.

First HATTRICK of #VIVOIPL 2019 @CurranSM ??

What a comeback this from @lionsdenkxipin as they win by 14 runs in Mohali. pic.twitter.com/cSnOG9o9z4

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 1, 2019

Delhi’s collective brain-fade: 7 wickets, 8 runs, 17 balls

Delhi needed 23 off 21 balls with their best finishers, Collin Ingram and Rishabh Pant well set and playing in their 30s. And that’s when their batsmen had a collective brain-fade.

SHAMI BHAI! ??#SaddaPunjab #KXIPvDC #KXIP #VIVOIPL @MdShami11 pic.twitter.com/nbJ1rXTuDl

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) April 1, 2019

After hammering a six on the previous ball, Pant aimed another one that ended up knocking out his middle-stump. On the very next ball, Chris Morris called for a single which could easily match-up with Lance Klusener’s call for a single in the famous 1999 World Cup semi-final as the ‘worst run attempted by a South-African’.

In the next over, Ingram, who was well-set and was the last hope for Delhi gifted a catch to long-off on a nothing ball. One ball later Harshal Patel was caught behind. Shami then shattered Hanuma Vihari’s stumps and Delhi’s remaining hopes as Sam Curran took two in two in the 20th over to complete his hat-trick.

Delhi was all-out for 152 runs, losing last seven wickets for eight runs in 17 balls.

Delhi’s top-order set-ups the chase as Shaw falls first ball

The start for Delhi was horrific too as Prithvi Shaw who scored 99 runs in the last game was out for a first ball duck. But then the experience of Shikhar Dhawan and exuberance of Shreyas Iyer steadied the ship and added 61 runs for the second wicket.

Both Dhawan and Iyer departed in quick succession only for Pant and Ingram to set the foundation for Delhi’s win which ultimately became the cliff from where they committed suicide.

Middle-order takes Punjab to 166

Earlier in the evening David Miller’s 30 ball 43 run knock propelled Kings XI Punjab to 166 runs off their 20 overs after a tidy bowling from Delhi had restricted them to three down for 58 runs in the eight over.

Also read:RR vs RCB IPL 2019: Chance for winless teams to get things right

Punjab asked Sam Curran to open the innings as Chris Gayle was injured and the pinch hitter delivered by hammering 20 off 10 balls. However a failure for KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal meant Punjab’s middle-order had another litmus test.

WICKET No. 2 for @IamSandeep25

Sarfaraz Khan departs after scoring 39 runs, #KXIP 121/4 after 14 overs. pic.twitter.com/dbzsRRWyzM

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 1, 2019

Sandeep Lamichhane made the task difficult with his accurate bowling but Sarfaraz Khan stood tall with Miller in the middle overs and added 62 runs for the fourth wicket in 40 balls.

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Then when Miller departed in the 17th over it looked like Punjab would run out of batsmen. Morris and Rabada wiped out the tail without much difficulty but Mandeep Singh kept his calm from the other end and ensured his side faced all 20 overs.

Mandeep remained unbeaten on 29 off 21 balls while Morris picked three wickets and Rabada and Lamichhane ended with two wickets apiece.