IPL 10, Match 36, Kings XI Punjab v Delhi Daredevils: 5 Game Changing Moments

It was a thumping victory by Kings XI Punjab over the Delhi Daredevils in the 36th match of IPL 10 as they roared back to winning ways with an exceptional 10 wickets victory with more than 12 overs left. It was an exceptional spell from Sandeep Sharma which was instrumental in restricting Delhi to their lowest ever IPL score of 67. Axar Patel and captain Maxwell also chipped in with crucial wickets.

The target wasn’t going to test the Punjab batsmen and they completed the formalities within a blink of an eye. Martin Guptill played a blinder of an innings and remained unbeaten on 50 of 27 deliveries which included 6 fours and 3 sixes. That said here we have a look at the 5 game-changing moments from the 36^th match of the tournament

Sandeep Sharma dazzles with a brilliant spell of 4/20

He was simply exceptional in his opening spell and it was due to his spell, DD was reduced to 22/3 in the 4^th over. He was simply superb and bagged his maiden wicket in the very first over when he sent back comeback man Sam Billings with a beautiful outswinger. He followed it up with the wicket of Sanju Samson as the man in form top edged a full-length delivery straight up in the air.

He was not yet done as he plucked a stunning return catch which dismissed Shreyas Iyer in his next over. It was one of the best return catches you will see ever as the pacer dived towards his natural side and completed the catch inches from the ground.

Axar Patel stems the run-flow in the middle overs

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel bowled good line and length and it was enough to derail their progress in the middle overs. After Sandeep’s sensational opening spell it was a brilliant effort by Axar to bag a couple of wickets and stem their run flow.

His bagged his first wicket when Karun Nair played down the wrong line and was castled by the spinner. He added another to his kitty when Chris Morris gave away a simple return catch to the bowler. It was a pretty soft dismissal as DD was reduced to 33/6 in the 9^th over.

Glenn Maxwell chips in with an impressive spell

Captain Maxwell bowled in the correct areas and ended up giving away a mere 12 runs in his allotted 4 overs. He also bagged the prized scalp of Rishabh Pant which a straighter one which went on with the arm and struck him adjacent to the stumps. The umpire had no hesitation in ruling it on favour of the bowling team as DD’s score read 30/5 at the fall of Pant’s wicket.

He bowled very tight lines during his spell and didn’t give any room for the batsman to go for the big shots. He executed the supporting act to perfection and was the perfect foil for Sandeep and Axar.

Martin Guptill smashes maiden IPL fifty

Chasing a modest 68 to win, New Zealand opener Martin Guptill came out all guns blazing and smashed the Punjab bowlers all around Mohali. The swashbuckling batsman began with a couple of boundaries in the first over of Mohammed Shami and added a couple more in the 4^th over of Kagiso Rabada.

He smashed his first six of Chris Morris as he was deposited in the 2^nd tier straight over his head. The big shots kept coming thick and fast as he reached his fifty in the final delivery of the match. His innings of 50 of 27 deliveries included 6 fours and 3 maximums.

Only 3 batsmen from DD manages double figure

It was a pathetic display of batting by Delhi as they were bowled out for their lowest-ever IPL score. They couldn’t get going and kept losing at regular intervals. Though it wasn’t the easiest of pitches but they should have certainly got somewhere around 130 to 150. Only 3 batsmen went past the double figure mark and it was the biggest reason why DD was bowled out for 67.