A brilliant final over by Marcus Stoinis ensured that late heroics by Eoin Morgan and Rahul Tripathi weren’t enough for KKR to overhaul the highest run-chase [229] in IPL history as Delhi Capitals [DC] eventually completed an 18-run-win in Sharjah on Saturday.
Kolkata Knight Riders needed a flying start to their run-chase and while Sunil Narine was once again dismissed cheaply, Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana ensured that they indeed got off to a flier, paving way for them to eventually score 59 runs in the powerplay.
But the introduction of Amit Mishra in the attack proceeded to put breaks to the run-scoring. Mishra gave away just 2 runs in his first over and even he dropped a caught & bowled chance, he was eventually rewarded in the next over as Shubman Gill top-edged an attempted sweep.
With Dre Russ in the house, Shreyas Iyer turned to his ace fast bowler in Kagiso Rabada, and even though the swashbuckler smashed him for a boundary and a six straight over his, Rabada had the last laugh as he hurried Russell with a pacy hard length delivery, only for the West Indian to mistime the attempted pull-stroke. Rabada- 1, Russell- 0
Nitish Rana completed his half-century in 20 balls before smashing Harshal Patel for a six and a four. He, however, eventually fell to Patel thanks to a mistimed hoike on mid-wicket. Harshal Patel got two in two after he hurried Dinesh Karthik (6 off 8 balls) for pace, leading to mistimed pull, one that ended up in mid-on’s hand. KKR- 5-118 in 13 overs.
With the cream of their batting gone and 111 still needed off the last 7 overs, the Knight Riders needed a miracle for the ages; they needed something special from Eoin Morgan and Rahul Tripathi, who to the surprise of everyone excluding the KKR’s think-tank, came out to bat at the No. 08 spot.
Eoin Morgan showed why he should have come above DK in the batting-order as he racked his way to a 10-ball 22 with the help of 2 six and 1 four. Rahul Tripathi laid into Marcus Stoinis in the next over for three sixes and a boundary to take the equation to 54 off the last 18 balls.
Eoin Morgan started the next over with a hattrick of monstrous sixes off Rabada as KKR came storming back into the contest, having scored 42 runs in the last nine balls. Tripathi survived a close caught-behind call on the penultimate ball of the 19th over before nailing the last one for a four to reduce it to 31 off 12.
Morgan eventually fell for a 18-ball 42 as he mistimed an attempted flick off Anrich Nortje. The DC fast bowler bowled a brilliant penultimate over, leaving 26 runs in the bank for Marcus Stoinis to defend.
Rahul Tripathi started the final over with a boundary past wide of backward point but the Australian effectively killed the contest on the second delivery, shattering Tripathi’s (36 off 16 balls) stumps.
Shreyas Iyer and Prithvi Shaw’s whirlwind knocks paved the way for DC to post 4-228 vs KKR
It was expected to be another six-hitting fest in Sharjah and that is exactly what it turned out to be on Saturday. Shikhar Dhawan looked in brilliant form right from the outset as he smashed a whirlwind 16-ball 26- an innings which included two sixes off Sunil Narine.
Dhawan, however, failed to convert his start and was eventually dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy. Prithvi Shaw once again displayed his brilliant run-of-form against Kolkata Knight Riders, as he along with skipper Shreyas Iyer flayed the bowling attack to all corners of the stadium.
Shaw completed his second half-century of the season- his 3rd in 4th innings vs KKR- with a flat batted six over long-on off Kamlesh Nagarkoti. Shreyas Iyer, on the other hand, was at his swashbuckling best against the spinners as he took both Narine and Chakravarthy to the cleaners.
Shaw was eventually dismissed when he mistimed a lofted stroke off Kamlesh Nagarkoti, only for Shubman Gill to complete an easy catch at long-on. Iyer continued the onslaught as the DC skipper scored his fastest IPL fifty (in 26 balls).
Rishabh Pant got into his groove after a scratchy start, smashing Shivam Mavi for three fours in the 16th over.
But Iyer looked like he was batting on a completely different level today. Even Pat Cummins wasn’t spared. The DC skipper greeted Cummins with a six and two boundaries in the next over as the Capitals motored along to 2-186 in 17 overs. Rishabh Pant (38 off 16 balls) joined the fun in the next over as he took Andre Russell to the cleaners, smashing him for a monstrous six and consecutive boundaries before eventually holing out to Shivam Mavi at the long-on boundary.
Dinesh Karthik turned to spinner Varun Chakravarthy and Shreyas Iyer, like he always does, cashed in big time, smashing him for two sixes and a four to take 20 runs from the over.
The DC skipper (88 off 38 balls) missed his 100 s Andre Russell’ brilliant last over did not allow him to take strike but by then his onslaught ensured that the Capitals posted 4-228 in 20 overs.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to DC’s win over KKR:
Morgan is just an unbelievable cricketer. Nothing but respect.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) October 3, 2020
12 bowlers used in the game, each of them was hit for at least one six…14 hit by each team #KKRvsDC #IPL2020
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) October 3, 2020
26 to get off the last over and you can’t say who’s going to win.#ipl #bowlerstotheslaughter #DCvsKKR pic.twitter.com/RvsZg4jcvK
— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) October 3, 2020
Good knocks by @NitishRana_27, @Eoin16 & Rahul Tripathi to back themselves and make this huge chase so interesting. @AnrichNortje02 bowled well upfront & @HarshalPatel23 was a good surprise package.#DCvKKR #IPL2020
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 3, 2020
I know there’s been chat about Sharjah & small boundaries…but really enjoyed that game ?? @DelhiCapitals @KKRiders #KKRvDC #IPL #guiltypleasure
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) October 3, 2020
Congratulations to @DelhiCapitals for convincing victory. @KKRiders tried hard in last overs especially Morgan’s inning but the target was not easy @IPL @BCCI
— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) October 3, 2020
I feel for bowlers playing At Sharjah. Fantastic win for @DelhiCapitals #shreyasiyer #harshalpatel #nortje #PrithviShaw
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 3, 2020
Well done @DelhiCapitals .. The core’s getting stronger and the captain’s getting bolder .. Building up from where they left last season. #DCvKKR
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) October 3, 2020
Eoin Morgan – Scoring Rate in Overs 16-20 in T20s
2016 – 11.33 rpo
2017 – 11.57 rpo
2018 – 13.16 rpo
2019 – 13.89 rpo
2020 – 13.95 rpoThe England captain is at the top of his game in T20s in the last few years.#IPL2020 #DCvKKR
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 3, 2020
QUICK GUN MORGAN
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) October 3, 2020
From Rahul Tewatia to Rahul Tripathi.
Sharjah is for Rahul’s? #IPL
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 3, 2020
Rahul Tripathi batting at #8.
Some muddled thinking for sure from the #KKR think tank.#DCvKKR— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) October 3, 2020
Eoin Morgan got runs last game. He was the ideal batsman to come in at the fall of Russell’s wicket. Just smoked his first ball for six. That kind of approach would’ve also made life easier for Rana. DK’s 6 off 8 at that stage is costlier than you think. #DCvKKR #IPL2020
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) October 3, 2020
Harshal Patel is quite an underrated bowled in the middle overs. He’s taken 22 wickets in Overs 7-15 in his IPL career, picking a wicket once in 20 deliveries. Of the seamers to have bowled 60+ overs in the phase, only Munaf Patel has better strike rate.#IPL2020 #DCvKKR pic.twitter.com/0ThBKc6fLd
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 3, 2020
Excellent strategy to get Rabada back for Russell. Not sure about him at no 4. Morgan is tailor-made for that.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 3, 2020
May I also say Morgan has to come ahead of Kartik. The captain can finish the innings for @KKRiders but get Morgan in to play as many balls as possible. He is key to this team.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) October 3, 2020
The batting order. That’s what the @KKRiders need to set right #KKRvsDC #IPLwithAajtak
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 3, 2020
As Russ stays deep, not easy to nail the yorker.
Said this numerous times that one of the ways to bowl at Russ is to pound it on a shorter length and tuck him up, especially when he tries to manufacture room. Rabada executes it.#IPL2020 #KKR #AndreRussell
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) October 3, 2020
Rabada – who doesn’t bowl yorkers at the death – bowls a yorker and gets whacked for six. Rabada – who bowls hard length at the death – bowls hard length and gets Russell caught top edging. #IPL2020 #DCvKKR
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) October 3, 2020
Why would you play Rahul Tripathi then? To take on Rabada? This is some really wow thinking.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 3, 2020
My word Rabada. That was some battle but Rabada is a superstar ?#DelhiCapitals #IPL2020
— Udit (@udit_buch) October 3, 2020
Proper King stuff from Rabada, just keep bowling fast.
— JackBo ManHorse (@basedIITian) October 3, 2020
Just a reminder than KG Rabada has almost 200 test wickets and he’s just 25.
— Sabeeha’s cricket blog ? (@SabeehaMajid) October 3, 2020
What an unbelievable over from the Amit Mishra. Just 2 runs & a dropped catch on a ground that’s a graveyard for bowlers. And he is by far the slowest bowler on display. Spin Masterclass
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) October 3, 2020
Amit Mishra has lost his hair and then grown them back. That’s how much experience Shubman Gill was up against! #DCvsKKR #IPL2020
— Arani Basu (@AraniBasuTOI) October 3, 2020
Excellent from Amit Mishra in his 150th IPL match – just went for 2 runs in the first over and took the wicket of Gill in the second over. Top stuff from an IPL legend.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 3, 2020
Amit Mishra has now taken 100 wickets for Delhi Capitals in the IPL. Second highest wicket taker in the history of the IPL, great and underrated bowler.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 3, 2020
I think Narine forgot how to bat.
— Siddarth Srinivas (@sidhuwrites) September 30, 2020
Narine opening for KKR. Not what I’d like but naturally it’s something the analysts have thought through. Hit, or get out tonight mate. In Sharjah (and excuse the cliches) dot balls are like gold dust. #IPL2020
— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) October 3, 2020
Meanwhile CSK fans are wondering why is everyone abusing Narine for wasting 5 deliveries in power play? #IPL
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 3, 2020
How long will they keep doing this with Narine? It’s bordering stupidity now.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 3, 2020
Hope KKR management realizes that Narine experiment has run its course ?
— नम्रता (@_Namrataa) October 3, 2020
What’s common between Shaw, Mayank, Iyer, Pant, Padikkal, Samson, Gill, Saini, Nagarkoti, Ishan Kishan? All trained under one and only Rahul Dravid. #IPL2020
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) October 3, 2020
.@ShreyasIyer15 Tremendous striking!
Enjoyed watching.#DCvKKR #IPL2020
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 3, 2020
That was a pure class session of batting by @ShreyasIyer15, desereved a 100! some of his shots were just unbelievable! Brilliant batting by everyone in @DelhiCapitals , just don’t get why you would want to bowl first at Sharjah!exciting game on our hands! #DCvsKKR #IPL2020
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) October 3, 2020
Made batting look so easy @DelhiCapitals
What did @ShreyasIyer15 eat for breakfast today? ?#DCvKKR
— VINOD KAMBLI (@vinodkambli349) October 3, 2020
Shreyas Iyer’s habit of just staring down/straight ahead after he’s smashed a six off the spinner is very, very, very cool. #IPL2020 #DCvKKR
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) October 3, 2020
Sharjah….. yet again big total on board 228 @DelhiCapitals superb batting @ShreyasIyer15 and @PrithviShaw @RishabhPant17 can they defend ? Lot will depend on #russ
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 3, 2020
Sharjah???????
— Ian bishop (@irbishi) October 3, 2020
Some real firepower in the innings from @DelhiCapitals ??⚡
Sensational bowling from @Russell12A
Pitch looks absolutely flat though and @KKRiders certainly have the batting lineup for this! Interesting chase ahead!#Dream11IPL #DCvKKR— Reema Malhotra (@ReemaMalhotra8) October 3, 2020
Is 228 enough? May be not in Sharjah! @KKRiders has Russell who if he gets going will get god knows how many!
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) October 3, 2020
Everyone enjoying the cricket at Sharjah? What does the bowler do?
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 3, 2020
The only other place where bowlers got hammered like Sharjah was in EA Sports. #IPL2020
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) October 3, 2020
Varun Chakravarthy after looking at Sharjah’s dimension. #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/g75m8nOgso
— Riya (@reaadubey) October 3, 2020
Variety is good in T20, as in all cricket. If all matches were Sharjah-style, it would be boring; exactly as if all were like this year’s CPL.
We don’t need an even contest between bat and ball, we need an even contest between two sides – in varying conditions.#IPL2020
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) October 3, 2020
20th over for 7 runs in a 228-run innings. Russell was always a game-changer with the bat…this season he’s been exceptional in the death overs too. Proper match-winner ?♂️ #KKR #DCvKKR #IPL2020
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 3, 2020
Highest totals for DC:
231/4 vs KXIP Delhi 2011
228/4 vs KKR Sharjah 2020 *
219/4 vs KKR Delhi 2018#DCvKKR #IPL2020— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) October 3, 2020