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Delhi Daredevils unleashed three extremely quick bowlers, supported by an ace fielding unit, on Kings XI Punjab at the Kotla, the first meeting between these sides in the season's 64th game. A steady fall of wickets ensued, while the resilient David Hussey cried out for a reliable partner, but did not find one. The upshot was a middling total, one that Daredevils will back themselves to chase and secure the victory that will guarantee a top-four finish in the league.
Kings XI Punjab, on the other hand, need to win this match and the next two games to keep ownership of their playoff chances. To pull this off they will have to beat the record for the lowest total successfully defended in Delhi - 144.
The leading lights in Daredevils' performance were Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav, who found bounce and movement in the Kotla pitch. Kings XI had made a brisk start - 24 for 0 in three overs - but Aaron ended that with his first ball: Shaun Marsh caught glancing down the leg side. In his second over, Aaron had the free-swinging Mandeep Singh caught at midwicket, where Virender Sehwag dived forward to take a low catch.
Kings XI were still progressing well and reached 50 for 2 in 6.2 overs. Yadav was the fifth bowler introduced, in the eighth over, and it took him two balls to strike. Nitin Saini drove loosely at a pacy outswinger, and Sehwag was stooping forward at first slip to complete Daredevils' third wicket.
David Miller was caught short by a direct hit from Pawan Negi at mid-on and Azhar Mahmood, the last of Kings XI's proper batsmen, was in as early as the 10th over. He stayed until the 12th, and soon after pulling Yadav for four, he hoisted towards long-off, where Irfan Pathan back-pedalled and caught the ball over his right shoulder on the edge of the boundary.
Gurkeerat Singh, who had played an unexpected, match-winning cameo against Chennai Chargers, unfurled two sparkling shots against the left-arm spin of Negi - an inside out drive and a graceful flick. Soon after, he was dragged out of his crease by a flighted ball that turned and stumped.
The outcome of all this was that Hussey had to play within himself, for Kings XI were in danger of being dismissed. He even had to turn down singles in the final two overs, to protect the last two wickets and try and muscle the boundaries himself. He wasn't able to hit too many.
Kings XI Punjab, on the other hand, need to win this match and the next two games to keep ownership of their playoff chances. To pull this off they will have to beat the record for the lowest total successfully defended in Delhi - 144.
The leading lights in Daredevils' performance were Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav, who found bounce and movement in the Kotla pitch. Kings XI had made a brisk start - 24 for 0 in three overs - but Aaron ended that with his first ball: Shaun Marsh caught glancing down the leg side. In his second over, Aaron had the free-swinging Mandeep Singh caught at midwicket, where Virender Sehwag dived forward to take a low catch.
Kings XI were still progressing well and reached 50 for 2 in 6.2 overs. Yadav was the fifth bowler introduced, in the eighth over, and it took him two balls to strike. Nitin Saini drove loosely at a pacy outswinger, and Sehwag was stooping forward at first slip to complete Daredevils' third wicket.
David Miller was caught short by a direct hit from Pawan Negi at mid-on and Azhar Mahmood, the last of Kings XI's proper batsmen, was in as early as the 10th over. He stayed until the 12th, and soon after pulling Yadav for four, he hoisted towards long-off, where Irfan Pathan back-pedalled and caught the ball over his right shoulder on the edge of the boundary.
Gurkeerat Singh, who had played an unexpected, match-winning cameo against Chennai Chargers, unfurled two sparkling shots against the left-arm spin of Negi - an inside out drive and a graceful flick. Soon after, he was dragged out of his crease by a flighted ball that turned and stumped.
The outcome of all this was that Hussey had to play within himself, for Kings XI were in danger of being dismissed. He even had to turn down singles in the final two overs, to protect the last two wickets and try and muscle the boundaries himself. He wasn't able to hit too many.