Images from Sunday's IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab, in Dubai.
Marcus Stoinis did the star turn in the last over of each innings with bat and ball, and Kagiso Rabada bowled with precision in the Super Over, to give Delhi Capitals a thrilling victory over Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League match, in Dubai, on Sunday.
Stoinis first blasted his way to a 21-ball-53, his late assault ensuring a decent 157 for 8 on the scoreboard for Delhi Capitals, with 57 coming off last three overs. The Australian all-rounder’s knock was studded with seven fours and three sixes.
In reply, Delhi Capitals were in control for 15 overs before Mayank Agarwal blasted 89 off 60 balls and nearly won it for the Kings.
However, Stoinis returned to the thick of action with opposition needing one run off three balls.
The first one was a dot, followed by the wickets of Agarwal and Chris Jordan. The match ended in a tie and went into the Super Over.
South Africa’s Super Over specialist Rabada then dismissed KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran off successive deliveries give his side an easy three-run target off one over.
Rabada had pulled off a stunning Super Over last season against Kolkata Knight Riders and, like Andre Russell, this time it was Nicholas Pooran, who got a lethal yorker. Then, it was difficult for India pacer Mohamed Shami to defend two runs.
Rishabh Pant got a couple and Kings XI pacer Shami bowled a wide to give Delhi Capitals two points from the match.
In Punjab's chase, skipper Rahul (21) was first to go; then India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin sent back Karun Nair (1) and Nicholas Pooran (0) in the space of five balls. It did not end well for Ashwin, though, as his needless dive after his last delivery to stop a single resulted in a freak shoulder injury.
Ashwin landed on his left arm. Writhing in pain, his jersey became a temporary sling as he left the field.
True to his reputation, Agarwal held one end up but Punjab needed Glenn Maxwell to fire, which did not happen as he could add only one run to his and team's total.
With half the side back in the pavilion and no big-hitting batsman left in the line-up, Agarwal's heroic batting kept the game alive. He hit seven fours and four sixes.
Earlier, Stoinis rallied Delhi Capitals in the final three overs.
The Australian all-rounder clobbered seven fours and three sixes as 57 runs came off final three overs after Shreyas Iyer (39 off 32 balls) and Rishabh Pant (31 off 29 balls) revived the Delhi innings during the middle overs with a 73-run third-wicket stand.
Mohammed Shami, with figures of 3 for 15 in four overs, was the pick of the Kings XI Punjab bowlers, while IPL debutant Ravi Bishnoi took 1 for 22 runs.
The pitch had a tinge of grass, the ball was swinging and India pacer Shami relished the bowling on a helpful track. His wicket-taking and run-choking act seemed to have made the difference before Stoinis's outstanding hitting changed the complexion of the game in matter of minutes.
It was a pitch that required patience from the batsmen, but Delhi Capitals began with reckless hitting after being invited to bat.
Prithvi Shaw (5) paid the price for his extravagance and Shimron Hetmyer (7) failed to check his shot after opener Shikhar Dhawan (0) was run-out to a horrible mix-up and the scoreboard was not a pleasant sight for the Delhi side at 13 for 3.
However, skipper Iyer and Pant respected the conditions to raise a 73-run stand for the fourth wicket before Stoinis's knock towards the end gave Delhi Capitals a psychological advantage going into the break.
Iyer launched into Gowtham for a massive six, the first of the innings, in the ninth over, taking the run-rate to a modest five-an-over. He and Pant largely relied on singles to keep the scoreboard moving. The former took Gowtham to the cleaners in the 13th over, creaming off 15 runs which included two well-measured straight sixes.
Suddenly, Iyer seemed to be snatching the momentum and it forced Punjab captain KL Rahul to bring back his best bowler -- Shami, who did not disappoint and got rid of Iyer.
But just when Delhi seemed to be limping Stonis got them the runs for a respectable total.
