Talking Points: Delhi fold in a heap, Curran over the moon

Game 13 of IPL 2019 was a humdinger, in which Delhi Capitals imploded sensationally to hand Kings XI Punjab victory by 14 runs.

Headlining KXIP’s win was the England allrounder Sam Curran who claimed 4/11 in extraordinary scenes, which included a hat-trick.

Here are the factors for Delhi’s loss and Punjab’s second win of the season:

Curran the opener makes a mark

Curran said after the match that he could not remember having opened the innings in a serious match of cricket. He smiled and said that he probably opened when he was school. Well, for whatever reason the Punjab think-tank decided to send the young allrounder up to open the innings with Chris Gayle out with a niggle, the move paid off … to a small extent. (READ: How Delhi Capitals capitulated against Kings XI Punjab)

Curran made 20 from 10 balls, hitting three fours and a six. When he was dismissed, KXIP were 36/2 in 3.5 overs.

Sarfaraz and Miller escalate

From 58/3, Delhi were revived thanks to a stand of 62 in 6.4 overs between Sarfaraz Khan and David Miller. The younger Sarfaraz took the initiative and made 39 off 29 balls, while Miller opened up later and got 43 from 30 balls. That was the only noticeable partnership of KXIP’s innings and it proved instrumental.

Ashwin gets Shaw first ball

In his last innings, teenage batting sensation Prithvi Shaw made 99. When he threw away a hundred, Shaw was angry. Rightfully so. In his next innings, he experienced a new sense of frustration: being out for a golden duck to start Delhi’s chase on a terrible note. (READ: I am speechless: Shreyas Iyer)

R Ashwin was probably well aware of Shaw’s preference for pace bowling in the Powerplay. So he brought himself on and had his man first ball, when Shaw mistimed a drive and edged behind to KL Rahul. A terrific start for Punjab. (VIDEO: Curran hat-trick seals sensational win for Punjab)

Shami gets Pant

Chasing 167, Delhi were well placed at 144/3 midway during the 17th over with Rishabh Pant on 39 and Colin Ingram on 39. The ball after he swung Mohammed Shami for six, Pant was bowled. The ball was full and honing into the stumps, Pant heaved and missed. Shami roared, knowing that he had made a massive strike.

Off the next ball, Chris Morris was run out by Ashwin from mid-off when attempting a risky single. Delhi had lost two wickets for no run and found themselves at 144/5.

Some madness, sparked by Curran

Fifteen deliveries later, the game was over with Delhi bowled out for 152. That is a collapse of seven wickets for eight runs in 17 balls. Never before had an IPL team combusted in such a manner.

In his second IPL match, Curran ran through Delhi’s lower order to end with 4/11, his hat-trick spread across two overs. Off the final ball of the 18th over, he had Harshal Patel caught behind. After Shami’s final over, in which Ingram lofted to long-off, Curran bowled Kagiso Rabada and Sandeep Lamichhane off successive balls to end Delhi’s innings in 19.2 overs.