As it happened: Bowlers hand Gujarat Titans 14-run win over Delhi Capitals
Delhi batting looks overtly reliant on skipper Pant as they slump to their first defeat
Gujarat Titans score an upset win over Delhi Capitals
By Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor
Kolkata: Gujarat Titans made it two out of two when they gave a clinical performance to record a 14-run win over the fancied Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2022 match in Pune this evening.
After Shubman Gill anchored their innings to post a challenging total of 171, the IPL debutants looked sharp under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya in defending a target that initially looked 15-20 runs short.
Lockie Ferguson, the Kiwi tearaway, broke the back of Delhi batting with a four-wicket haul, while Mohammed Shami cleaned up two wickets after coming back for his second spell.
It was quite a compact performance from the somewhat under-rated franchise, while Delhi will be hoping for David Warner to be available to them as soon as possible.
A gamechanger?
Ferguson is providing invaluable service to the Titans in Pune with four wickets so far. Coming round the wicket, he lures Pant into one of his favourite pull by digging it in short and it ends in the hands of Abhinav Manohar. Soon after, the Kiwi gets Axar Patel caught behind and he has figures of 3-0-20-4 now!
Powell joins Pant
Rovman Powell joins his skipper after Lalit Yadav (25) is run out due to a smart piece of work as it ends a dangerous looking partnership. Delhi cross the 100-mark but they are still close to the asking rate. Gujarat, meanwhile, are doing a competent job in defending their score - this one will go down to the wire.
Pant, Lalit Yadav put Delhi on course
Pant finds an able ally in allrounder Lalit Yadav as they stitch a valuable 50-plus partnership. Rashid Khan, who came in at eighth over, makes to make an impact in his two overs but Delhi still has quite a job on their hands.
Lockie on fire
Lockie Ferguson, the New Zealand pace bowler, shows his worth by removing the dangerous Prithvi Shaw and Mandeep Singh who was growing in confidence. Delhi reeling after a poor powerplay as they manage 43 for the loss of three wickets.
Pandya opens attack
A smart move by captain Pandya who started the new ball attack with Shami as the ball had been stopping a bit. He strikes off his first delivery as Tim Seifert drives early at him and is caught at mid wicket.
Gujarat Titans ride on classy Gill knock
By Gautam Bhattacharyya, Senior Associate Editor
Kolkata: Shubman Gill showed once again why he is regarded so highly with a classy 84 (off 46 balls), helping Gujarat Titans reach a challenging score of 171 for six against Delhi Capitals in the evening match of IPL 2022 this evening.
The most significant part of Gill’s innings was not only the six fours or four sixes, but the fact that he has only played six dot balls along the way. Skipper Hardik Pandya, coming in at number four, was timing the ball well for his 31 off 27 deliveries while David Miller & Rahul Tewatia came up with two cameos.
It does not look quite a par score with Delhi boasting of the likes of Prithvi Shaw and skipper Rishabh Pant, but this is where Mohammed Shami can make a difference with a few early strikes.
Gill opens up
Gill, who scored a polished half-century, and has been anhcoring the innings and picks up Axar for a big six over mid-wicket. With David Miller around, they need to take it to the region of 170 or more in the last four overs.
Onus on Hardik, Gill
A crucial phase of the innings. Gill has now spent time in the middle and needs to open up alongwith his captain Pandya - through it's not proving easy against two quality spinners like Kuldeep and Axar.
Gujarat lose Vijay Shankar
It's been a sedate powerplay for Gujarat with Gill and Vijay Shankar trying to play some risk-free cricket to reach 44 for one. Pant brings on Kuldeep immediately as there is not much juice in it for seamer and he strikes with the wrong un straightaway. The Chinaman bowler must have taken a lot of heart from his three-wicket haul in first game.
Mustafizur strikes
The Bangladesh seamer, in the playing XI after his quarantine, makes his presence felt. An ideal back of a length delivery to which Matthew Wade got some blade and was caught behind by Pant. Delhi rewarded for a sharp DRS as they strike the first blood.
Kolkata: It’s time for the action to shift to the MCA Stadium in Pune where Delhi Capitals take on debutants Gujarat Titans in Match 10 of IPL 2022 this evening.
Both teams are coming off a break since they won their respective first games, with the Rishabh Pant-led side winning a close game against Mumbai Indians while the feisty allrounder Rahul Tewatia and skipper Hardik Pandya took Gujarat over the line against the other newcomer Lucknow Super Giants.
Delhi may have a better batting firepower than their rivals, but the toss will once again play a crucial role in the evening game as Gujarat's pace attack, led by senior pro Mohammed Shami and Kiwi Lockie Ferguson, seem to have more quality than their rivals. A welcome addition to Pant's playing XI this evening will be Mustafizur Rehman of Bangladesh, who has now completed his quarantine period.
An interesting battle is on the cards, and one can only write off the Titans at their own peril...