Pant packs a punch, powers Capitals to a mammoth 224 against Titans

The skipper smashes an unbeaten 43-ball 88, studded with ‚ve fours and eight sixes, and forges a 113-run partnership for fourth wicket with Axar

Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant put on a masterclass in aggressive batting, scoring an unbeaten 43ball 88, to pilot the team to a formidable 224 for four against Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday.

Justifying the management’s decision to promote him in the batting order, Axar Patel scored his „rst „fty of the season, combining with the skipper for a 113-run stand.

After being put in to bat, Capitals openers Prithvi Shaw and Jake FraserMcGurk started on the right note, taking the attack to Titans’ opening bowlers Azmatullah Omarzai and Sandeep Warrier.

Continuing the trend

Fraser-McGurk continued his aggressive approach and was punished anything delivered on the leg-stump; the imperious Žick over midwicket for six o‘ Warrier the pick of the lot.

The Tamil Nadu bowler, however, stuck to his plans. He brought the square „elder squarer, forcing the Australian to play a similar shot and it was pouched by Noor Ahmad.

The Afghan was also involved in the next dismissal, running in and diving forward to catch a pull shot from Shaw.

Warrier then induced a false shot from Shai Hope, after testing the West Indian with a couple of slower deliveries, as Capitals slid to 44 for three.

Though the Afghan spin twins — Rashid Khan and Noor — were at the bowling crease, Pant and Axar ensured they weren’t pinned down and counter-attacked the duo.

Pant, in particular, brought out his no-holdsbarred approach, coming down the track often despite the threat of a stumping.

Axar eventually fell to Noor, handing a simple catch to R. Sai Kishore trying to loft one over long-on.

Disastrous move Shubman Gill’s decision to bring in Mohit Sharma proved disastrous as Pant displayed his full repertoire of strokes, including a helicopter shot over midwicket.

The Titans skipper’s ploy to employ left-arm spinner Sai Kishore against Tristan Stubbs back„red, too. The South African hammered two sixes and two fours as 22 came o‘ the over.

Pant reserved his best for the last. He smashed 31 o‘ Mohit’s over — the 20th of the innings — to leave the Titans stunned and the bowler with the dubious record of the most expensive spell (4-0-73-0) in the IPL.

GT was 188 for seven in 18 overs with Rashid (2) and Sai Kishore (1) batting. Sai Sudharsan (65) and Miller (55) shone.

SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR Pant underlined his growing confidence with a boundary-studded knock against Titans.