That is it from this game and another Super Saturday in the 2023 Indian T20 League ends. The action though continues on Sunday, the 14th of May with yet another doubleheader. First, Rajasthan take on Bangalore in Jaipur and that game will begin at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). Then there will be a clash between Chennai and Kolkata in Chennai at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). The build-up for both those games will begin a lot sooner though. Cheers!
Prabhsimran Singh is the Player of the Match for his exceptional knock of 103 runs from 65 balls. He starts by saying that since they lost early wickets, his plan was to bat long. Mentions that he has been with the team for a long time and tries to learn from the senior players. Shares that he wanted to grab the opportunities with both hands and back his game. Reckons that the wicket was difficult as the ball was turning and tried to build a partnership with Sam Curran. On his celebration post hundred, he says that this is his celebration at the domestic level and he is thankful to god and the team management.
Shikhar Dhawan, the skipper of Punjab, starts by saying that he was thinking about the game after the Powerplay and the way they pulled things back was amazing. Adds that the knock Prabhsimran played was brilliant. He then applauds the bowlers and says that they showed good maturity and commends the effort of Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar as well. Ends by saying that they need to keep calm and take it one game at a time.
Time for the presentations...
One of the stars of Punjab's win, Harpreet Brar is in next for a chat. He says that he enjoyed bowling on this surface. Shares that he was a bit nervous after conceding 13 runs in the first over. Mentions that he knew he could come back, having watched the first innings. States that his plan was to bowl dot balls and put the new batter under pressure. Also says that he tried to bring the batter on the front foot. Reckons that he and Rahul Chahar bowled well in partnership and credits Chahar for applying pressure which resulted in him getting the wickets.
David Warner, the skipper of Delhi is in for an interview. He says that they wanted to restrict Punjab to a lower total than this one. Adds that they got more than they should have and states that Prabhsimran Singh batted well. Feels that dropping catches did not help and when you lose 6 wickets for 30 after a good start, you are not going to win many games. Mentions that they will look to play with pride and play with freedom. Feels that it was another disappointing effort with the bat after the start they had. Ends by saying that they have found the right combination but they kept losing 4-5 wickets in the middle which is something you cannot do at this level.
Earlier in the game, David Warner won the toss and put Punjab into bat. This turned out to be a good decision as Ishant Sharma rocked Punjab early with a double breakthrough. However, Prabhsimran Singh played a blinder of a knock and single-handedly changed the momentum of the game in the first half. He went on to score a sensational ton and took his side to 167 runs, a solid score on a tough wicket. In the second half, it was a different story as Delhi started off well but then the slower bowlers shone through for Punjab and got them over the line.
Delhi will be absolutely gutted with this loss. David Warner came out all guns blazing and was brilliant upfront. Philip Salt too started off well but once he got out, the rest of the side simply crumbled against the spinners. Batters who came in at 3, 4, 5 and 6 didn't even get more than 5 runs individually and there was a lot of pressure on the lower middle order. The likes of Aman Khan and Pravin Dubey tried their best but it was simply a bridge too far. Warner was the only who got to fifty and this loss sums up Delhi's miserable season perfectly.
A comprehensive performance with the ball from Punjab and they have now given themselves a chance of making it to the playoffs with this crucial win. It wasn't the best of starts with the ball from them as their bowlers were hit for a flurry of boundaries early on. Once they got the first wicket though, the floodgates opened. Harpreet Brar was sensational in the middle phase and ended up picking four wickets. Nathan Ellis and Rahul Chahar were also brilliant with a couple of wickets each but it was the latter who spun the ball beautifully and made life difficult for the Delhi bowlers. All in all, a solid win, and Punjab will be fairly happy with that.
In over# 20
1
1
1
0
1
1
Nathan Ellis 26/2(4)
19.6
1
THAT'S IT! Punjab get the better of Delhi in a convincing fashion! Slower and into the wicket, on off, Kuldeep Yadav advances and goes for the pull. Slices this one in the air towards mid off. Shikhar Dhawan from extra cover back tracks but does not manage to reach the ball. The batters cross for a single but it would not matter much. Punjab win by 31 runs!
19.5
1
DROPPED! Bowls a back of the hand slower delivery, on off, Mukesh Kumar advances and has a swipe across the line. Skies this one towards deep mid-wicket. Harpreet Brar there sprints forward and does put in a dive but does not manage to get his hands to the ball.
19.4
1
Low full toss, on middle from 'round the wicket, Kuldeep Yadav hacks this one to deep mid-wicket for a single.
19.3
.
Bowls it from wide of the crease and slower, outside off, Kuldeep Yadav leaves the ball alone.
19.2
1
Goes fuller and on middle, Mukesh Kumar looks to go downtown but gets deceived by the slowness of the delivery. Toe ends it long on for one more run.
19.1
1
Off cutter, outside off, on a length, Kuldeep Yadav cuts it to deep point for one.
In over# 19
1
1
1
0
0
1
Arshdeep Singh 32/0(4)
18.6
1
Goes short and outside off, Kuldeep Yadav shimmies and pulls it to deep square leg. Keeps the strike with a single.
18.5
1
Bowls on a back of a length and angling into the batter, Mukesh Kumar backs away and powers it down to long on for one.