Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shikhar Dhawan said that his decision to bowl a spinner in the final over backfired and that his bowlers were unable to capture wickets when the ball was moving around during the power play after his team’s 15-run loss against Delhi Capitals (DC).
Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shikhar Dhawan said that his decision to bowl a spinner in the final over backfired and that his bowlers were unable to capture wickets when the ball was moving around during the power play after his team’s 15-run loss against Delhi Capitals (DC). Livingstone’s magnificent knock of 94 (48) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against DC on Wednesday at the HPCA Stadium was insufficient.
“It was frustrating, but I do not think we bowled well in the first six overs. We should have taken some wickets the way the ball was moving around. You always hope. After that no-ball, we hoped because Livi (Liam Livingstone) was playing a great knock. Even my decision to bowl a spinner last over backfired. And before that, the fast bowlers did not pitch the ball up in the power play. That was the plan but we did not execute. It is hurting us. In every power play, we are giving 50-60 runs and not taking wickets. We knew the first two-three overs it would swing, and we knew we could take our time. The first over also went maiden, which does not often happen, but it did happen,”
said Shikhar in a post-match presentation.
PBKS elected to bat first, and DC scored a massive 213/2 in their 20 overs. With a 94-run opening stand, DC got off to a strong start thanks to openers David Warner (46 in 31 balls, with five fours and two sixes) and Prithvi Shaw (54 off 38 balls, with seven fours and a six).
Shaw also put on a 54-run stand with Rilee Rossouw, who made an unbeaten 82 in just 37 balls, consisting of six fours and six sixes. The South African batter and Phil Salt (26* in 14 balls, with two fours and two sixes) put on a 65-run partnership.
Sam Curran (2/36 in four overs) was the only bowler to take wickets for PBKS.
In reply, PBKS lost skipper Shikhar for a golden duck. However, a 50-run partnership for the second wicket was put together by Prabhsimran Singh (22 in 19 balls) and Atharva Taide (55 in 42 balls, with five fours and two sixes). Taide and Liam Livingstone then put on a 78-run partnership for the third wicket, but Taide retired.
Livingstone kept his side in the game by continuing to hit sixes. With a no-ball in the final over, PBKS was left requiring 16 in three balls after he had put the side within touching distance of a win. Despite putting up a great fight for his team, Livingstone failed to secure the victory. He had hit 94 off 48 balls with five fours and nine sixes, his second fifty of IPL 2023, before he was dismissed on the last ball of the game.
Anrich Nortje (2/36 in his four overs) was the pick of the bowlers for DC. Ishant Sharma (2/36) got wickets in his three overs but was slightly expensive. Khaleel Ahmed and Axar Patel got a wicket each as well.
Rossouw got ‘Player of the Match’ for his knock.
With this, PBKS is in the eighth spot with six wins, seven losses, and a total of 12 points. They have very little chance of making the playoffs. DC has five wins and eight defeats, placing them in ninth place. The side has 10 points.