Kings XI Punjab’s Sam Curran crushed the Delhi Capitals with a sensational hat-trick to seal an unlikely win and bag Monday’s Turbo Bowler award, writes ANITHA MADIKIZELA.
The Capitals looked to be cruising to victory in Mohali with Rishabh Pant (39) and Colin Ingram (38) at the crease needing around a mere run a ball to get over the line. Disaster struck when the visitors lost a scarcely believable seven wickets for just eight more runs, thanks to a wrecking-ball spell from the youngest Curran brother.
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The left-arm paceman brought out his blistering best on the evening, beginning with the wicket of Ingram. The formidable former Protea was Curran’s first victim when he smashed a length delivery straight to long-off to leave the Capitals languishing at 147-6 in pursuit of a relatively simple target of 167.
Hahaha that was insane! Super proud, what a game @CurranSM ???
— Tom Curran (@_TC59) April 1, 2019
Two deliveries later the 20-year-old accounted for all-rounder Harshal Patel with the final ball of the 18th over. Indian seamer Mohammad Shami (2-27) bowled a superb penultimate over by picking up a wicket while conceding just four runs.
With the visitors needing 15 more off the final over, Curran stepped up to the plate and promptly dispelled any hope the Capitals might have been harbouring. Both Kagiso Rabada and Sandeep Lamichhane failed to survive against the rampaging quick as he rattled both tail-enders’ stumps for a golden duck.
As a result, the Capitals fell 14 runs short thanks to the young man’s heroics, which earned him a well-deserved Player of the Match award. Curran walked away with four wickets at the expense of just 11 runs (econ. 4.71) after having contributed 20 runs in the first innings at a strike rate of 200.
REPORT: Sam Curran takes four late wickets to inspire a 14-run #VIVOIPL win for Kings XI Punjab as Delhi Capitals suffer almighty batting collapse.
? Sky customers can watch the IPL live on Star Gold, channel 729 ⭐? pic.twitter.com/dQhSflKlsm
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) April 1, 2019
READ ALSO: Curran taking ‘small steps’ to World Cup berth
The Capitals will hope to bounce back quickly from their disastrous trip when they return home to take on a high-flying Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday, while the Kings XI next face the Chennai Super Kings in the early game on Saturday.
Photo: Rahul Gulati/Sportzpics/BCCI
