Virender Sharma (India), Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand, TV), Sundaram Ravi (India)
The Dubai pitch has slowed down over the last one month, even more so after bearing the brunt of 44 overs on Sunday. Captain winning the toss should elect to bat first and aim to put around 180 runs on the board.
It would be a hot and humid evening with temperatures varying between 31 and 27 degree celsius. We are in for full 40 overs.
Though the Delhi Capitals have the most balanced outfit this season, the power-packed top order of the Kings XI Punjab can take the game away from the opposition on any given day. Interestingly, their captain KL Rahul has been the Man of the Match in all 3 matches KXIP won this season. If he once again gets going tonight with significant contributions from the explosive trio of Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran and Glenn Maxwell, the KXIP bowlers would have plenty of runs to play with. However, the Punjab-based franchise should be wary of arguably the best bowling line-up of IPL 2020. If KL and Co can successfully negate the threat of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, we will be in for a run-fest yet again. On the other hand, DC would look to get the scoreboard moving in the middle overs, play sensibly against the leg-spin duo of Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin. If DC fail to score and also give away wickets in the middle overs, their bowlers would then have a really tough job at hand to maintain the summit position.
That's all we have for the match as I, Lavil Saldanha and my colleague Karthik Raj sign off. Do join us tomorrow for cracker of a contest between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Kolkata Knight Riders at Abu Dhabi at 7:30 IST. Also do check Sportskeeda for latest match commentaries and sports related news pieces. Until next time, its goodbye from our side. STAY HOME AND STAY SAFE!!
Shikhar Dhawan has been awarded the man of the match award for for his fluent 106 runs in 58 balls
Kings XI Punjab win the match by 5 wickets
This Punjab side never ceases to amaze us with their batting. They started off with a cracking over from KL Rahul as he tonked it hard straight over the head of the bowler for a maximum. Things began to be troublesome for KXIP when they lost their captain to a lose shot. In walked the Universe Boss and took apart the DC bowling attack with his blistering hits and humungous maximums. They were in shambles there as they lost Mayank and Gayle in the same over reminiscing them of their ghory past. Pooran was a really bad with his communication and running between the wickets, but coped it up with a few big hits and brought up his second IPL fifty. Glenn Maxwell, the more experienced pro, took the backfoot in the partnership and played a patient innings. Pooran fell to Rabada and Maxwell too followed suit handing an easy catch to Pant. In the end, Deepak Hooda and Jimmy Neesham strung a small little partnership in the end with the latter finishing off with a maximum to seal the deal with 6 balls to spare.
DC were clinical with the bat but not really good with the ball. Their debutant, Daniel Sams started off with the no ball and conceded 8 runs in the first over. Axar accounted for the wicket of Rahul early in the chase and the DC contingent put together a good effort to run out Mayank Agarwal. The big bull, Kagiso Rabada , came back into the atatck and accounted for the wickets of the dangerous Pooran and Maxwell. Ashwin as always was at his best as he accounted for the wicket of the Universe Boss for the fifth time in IPL. Tushar Deshpande was carted away all around the ground and will have a night to forget along with Marcus Stoinis who only bowled an over and went for 14 runs.
This win has done a world of good to the confidence of the Punjab outfit. They move on to the 5th place and will face SunRisers Hyderabad in Dubai on 24th October.
Delhi Capitals still are on the top of the table but haven't yet sealed their playoffs spot yet. They will face KKR next in Abu Dhabi on 24 October
18.6 Daniel Sams to James Neesham, Neesham finishes it off in style!! Six runs! Full and wide, Neesham slogged it over deep mid-wicket for a six. KXIP wrap up the chase with one over to go to keep themselves in contention for a play-off spot. impressive all-round performance from them.
18.5 Daniel Sams to Deepak Hooda, Hooda survives! Short of a length, Hooda wanted to big but he got off a top edge only to see Marcus Stoinis making a mess out of that catch. Single taken.
18.4 Daniel Sams to Deepak Hooda, short of a length, Hooda plays it to point. No run.
18.3 Daniel Sams to James Neesham, straighter ball, Neesham glances it to fine-leg for a single.
18.2 Daniel Sams to Deepak Hooda, length ball outside off, Hooda plays it to the sweeper for a single.
18.1 Daniel Sams to James Neesham, Neesham gets a thick outside edge to third man after trying to go big over the leg side, Single.
Good over for the Kings as they get close to 8 runs in 12 balls. They have batted out well and they will look to cross the line without many hiccups. With Neesham and Hooda at the crease, its rest assured for KXIP batsmen
17.6 Axar Patel to Deepak Hooda, Hooda almost yorked himself before playing it to mid-wicket. No run.
17.5 Axar Patel to James Neesham, slightly short from Axar, Hooda goes back and strikes the ball between long-on and mid-wicket for a boundary. Goes deep in the crease and hits the ball over the in field for a boundary. the target now in touching distance for them
17.4 Axar Patel to James Neesham, Neesham gets off strike with a sweep to square-leg.
17.3 Axar Patel to James Neesham, quick delivery on the stumps, Neesham pushes it to the on side but Axar prevents a single.
17.2 Axar Patel to James Neesham, flat outside off, Neesham plays it straight to the cover fielder.
17.1 Axar Patel to Deepak Hooda, straighter ball, Hooda pushes it to backward square leg for a single.
Good over from Ashwin there. Tries his level best to get back DC in the game and he tries but in vain. Its Punjab's game to lose from here one as they only need 14 runs in 18 balls
16.6 Ravichandran Ashwin to Deepak Hooda, leg-break from Ashwin, Hooda was completely foxed after getting down the track. The ball took the inside edge past Rishabh Pant. Poor work from the keeper. Single.
