GUJRATTLED
Delhi bundle out GT for 89 as bowlers come to party
Ahmedabad, April 17: Delhi Capitals bundled out Gujarat Titans for 89 in their Indian Premier League match here on Wednesday, the bowlers finally having a say after being blasted all over the park in the last few matches.
Mukesh Kumar was the most successful bowler for DC with figures of 3/14, while there were two wickets apiece for Ishant Sharma (2/8) and Tristan Stubbs (2/11).
As far GT batting is concerned, only Rashid Khan put up a semblance of resistance with a 24-ball 31.
Invited to bat first, skipper Shubman Gill (8) timed to perfection an overpitched Khaleel Ahmed delivery for GT’S first scoring shot of the innings.
Ishant Sharma served up a freebie to Gill, and the ball got the treatment it deserved as the opener found the gap on the offside.
Ishant, the seasoned campaigner, struck in the very next ball though with Gill chipping a fullerlength ball straight to Prithvi Shaw at cover on a pitch that is being used for the first time this season and has been described as a “100 per cent black-soil” surface.
Sai Sudharsan (12) walked in early and got into the groove with backto-back fours, including an exquisite boundary through extra cover.
Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant then introduced Mukesh Kumar in place of Ishant, and the bowler responded in the fifth ball of his first over as Wriddhiman Saha (2) got a thick inside edge and the middle and off stumps were disturbed.
Playing the match in place of the injured David Warner, Sumit Kumar then produced a brilliant piece of fielding and ran out Sudharsan with a direct throw at the nonstriker’s end, a diving effort from the batter failing to save him as the ball hit the base of the stumps.
The Capitals were on song, and their skipper led by example as he dived to pull off an excellent
catch off Ishant to send back the dangerous David Miller (2), leaving the home team reeling at 30/4 in five overs.
Ishant opened up Miller with one that angled into the left-hander, but the umpires didn’t seem interested despite a loud appeal.
However, Pant decided to review after being persuaded by Ishant and
Fraser-mcgurk at slip. It was the right call, as Ultraedge showed Miller got a clear edge.
More trouble awaited the Titans as Pant pulled off a fine stumping off Tristan Stubbs to bring about Abhinav Manohar’s downfall, forcing the home team to send super sub Shahrukh Khan into the middle.