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Kings put up a royal show

MOHALI: Delhi Daredevils put up their worst performance to hand a lifeline to the struggling Kings XI Punjab in their IPL encounter here today. The bottom-placed team scored just 67, their lowest total ever, to make a hash of the contest in front of a Sunday crowd.

Kings put up a royal show

Sandeep Sharma (R) celebrates the wicket of Shreyas Iyer in Mohali on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: NITIN MITTAL



Gaurav Kanthwal 

Tribune News Service

Mohali, April 30

Delhi Daredevils put up their worst performance to hand a lifeline to the struggling Kings XI Punjab in their IPL encounter here today. The bottom-placed team scored just 67, their lowest total ever, to make a hash of the contest in front of a Sunday crowd. In doing so, Daredevils achieved the dubious distinction of equalling the lowest score in the first innings of an IPL game — Kolkata Knight Riders were also bowled out for the same total against Mumbai Indians in 2008. Also, it's the third-lowest total in IPL.

Taking full advantage of Delhi's misadventure, Kings XI Punjab shone brightly as they raced to their first ever 10-wicket victory. Martin Guptill (50) and Hashim Amla (16) finished off the formalities in just 7.5 overs. Punjab's incredible transformation as a team and the massive win once again highlighted the fickle nature of T20 cricket. Just two days ago, the hosts were outclassed by defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad at the same venue.

Sandeep swings it for Kings

Sandeep Sharma, who was brought into the playing XI in place of Ishant Sharma, destroyed Delhi's top-order with his career-best 4/20. The 23-year-old removed Sanju Samson (5), Sam Billings (0) and Shreyas Iyer (6) to leave Delhi in disarray. Iyer's dismissal in particular was pretty special — Sandeep dived to his left in his follow-through and grabbed the ball inches off the ground with his left hand. The catch will easily make it to the top-five catches of the tournament. The Patiala bowler got rid of Kagiso Rabada in the 16th over, caught by Shaun Marsh at long-on, for his fourth wicket. Rabada had hardly started walking back when the DJ mischievously turned on the Bollywood number Achcha chalta hun duaon me yaad rakhna over the public address system. 

Delhi missed the services of skipper Zaheer Khan due to a hamstring injury. And Karun Nair, who was handed over the reins of the team for this game, had a forgettable captaincy debut. Delhi had virtually lost the match after slumping to 67 all out. The Delhi batsmen fell in an attempt to score quickly on a slow-paced wicket and Sandeep's medium pace confounded them. The 23-year old bowler is Punjab's trump card in the Powerplays —  he has an economy rate of 6.57 and six wickets to boot in this crucial phase of the match. 

“I was dropped in the last match. Virender Sehwag told me to take a break and think about the game,” said Sandeep. “Viru paaji told me my strength is swing and I should back that, regardless of how many runs I concede. He told me the important thing is to take wickets with the new ball.”

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