STATS HIGHLIGHTS
Follow UsHeading into the match, Delhi camp had six positive COVID cases, but that didn’t have a negative impact on their outcome. They cruised to a nine-wicket win and registered their third win in an emphatic manner.
Delhi openers go gung-ho
With a small target ahead, Delhi openers came out with a clear intention of boosting their net run rate and they did it in style. The two openers, David Warner and Prithvi Shaw hoisted the 50-run partnership in the 4th over (3.3).
It didn’t stop there, they went on to amass 81 runs in the first six overs without being separated. By virtue of it, Delhi posted their highest first six overs score in the IPL. Previously, against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008, they had scored 71, the highest then. In addition, the two openers smashed 14 fours, which is the most fours hit by any team in the first six in the IPL.
Warner’s unstoppable run flow against Punjab
The most consistent batsman in the IPL, Warner, embarked on another milestone. In the IPL, Warner has scored 800+ runs against three teams. However, against Punjab, he has a special liking.
In the IPL since 2014, Warner has scored 760 runs in 15 innings at an average of 63.3 against Punjab with 10 scores of over 50. Out of those 10, nine 50+ scores had come in consecutive innings. Overall, he has scored 1005 runs against Punjab, making him the second batsman in IPL to score over 1000 runs against an opponent. To go along, Warner has hit 12 scores of overs 50 against the Punjab franchise, which is the most by a player.
His love of scoring against Punjab just doesn’t end with runs or 50+ scores. In the 22 innings Warner has batted against the franchise, he has hit 106 fours, which is the most by a player against an opponent. By adding his 37 sixes to go with, Warner has hit 143 boundaries against Punjab, which is also the most by a batsman against an opponent. He surpassed Rohit Sharma’s tally of 136 boundaries against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Biggest win for DC in the IPL
Thanks to the blazing start from their openers Shaw and Warner, Delhi managed to chase the target with over 50 balls remaining and boost their net run rate to 0.942, the best among all the teams.
In their history of IPL, this was Delhi's largest margin of win, their first win with 50+ balls to spare. Previously, against the now-defunct Deccan Chargers in 2008, they had reached the target with 42 balls to spare, the highest then. To add more, this is the first time a team has chased a 100+ target with 50+ balls remaining in the IPL.
Axar spins his web
Prior to this match, Axar Patel had only one wicket to his name in five innings this edition with an economy of 8.8. But, when it mattered the most, Axar came out as the best bowler for Delhi.
In his match against Punjab, Axar picked up the key wickets of Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma. More than the runs, Axar put a brake on the runs. In his full quota of four overs, he gave away only 10 runs at an economy of 2.5. Among left-arm spinners, including Chinaman bowlers, his economy of 2.5 was the best in a four-over spell in the IPL.
Delhi openers on a roll
Warner’s return in the IPL has boosted Delhi’s batting up front. In his absence, Delhi in their first two matches scored 89 runs and lost six wickets at a balls/wicket ratio of 12. However, since Warner was available, in four matches, only once have they lost a wicket and have scored at a runs rate of 10.8. Delhi’s powerplay score since Warner’s availability read: 81/0 vs PBKS, 57/1 vs RCB, 68/0 vs KKR & 52/0 vs LSG.
In all the four innings, the duo of Shaw and Warner have posted a 50+ stand for the opening wicket. In just four innings, they have hoisted 293 runs, which is the most for a pair this season. To add more on their consistency, the four successive 50+ partnerships is the joint second longest streak for an opening pair. Chris Gayle and KL Rahul had a streak of five successive 50+ opening partnerships in 2018.
