PBKS VS DC MATCH 2

Right then, we are done with Match number 2 of the 2024 Indian T20 League and it is Punjab who join Chennai as the first two victorious teams. Next up is a clash between Kolkata and Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and Kolkata are batting first in that game. You can simply switch tabs and tune in to our coverage of that game. Cheers!

Sam Curran is the Player of the Match for his match-winning knock of 63 runs. Curran says that he is really pleased and they didn't quite know how the ground would play but there's nothing better than starting off with a win. Adds that he knew they could take it deep as Delhi were one bowler short and enjoyed batting with Liam Livingstone. Adds that while batting you need to take risks at certain points and feels lucky that his catch was dropped. Reckons that the pitch played well and for a big ground, the ball was traveling well. Ends by saying that they were just focused on the win in this game and are just happy with it.

Shikhar Dhawan, the skipper of Punjab says it feels great to be on the ground and he has been preparing well for this season. Adds that the bowlers go through their own emotions and he did not get enough time to talk to them after the first innings. Mentions that they leaked a few extra runs and with it being the first game there were some nerves and the wicket under the light played better and Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone finished things perfectly for them. States that this is a new ground and they didn't think too much about it and just let the other team do the thinking while they could play accordingly.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and opted to field first but it seemed to be the wrong decision as the Delhi openers went into overdrive early in the innings. Both David Warner and Mitchell Marsh looked solid but Marsh was cleaned up by Arshdeep Singh after which Shai Hope joined Warner and both batters looked in good touch. However, both of them got out after a good start and the returning skipper, Rishabh Pant couldn't hang around for much either. It was looking like Delhi would struggle to get to 150 but Axar Patel kept the innings afloat and the Impact Player, Abishek Porel went berserk in the final over to take them to a par score of 173 runs. For Punjab, Harshal Patel picked up wickets at crucial stages of the contest but went for plenty in that final over and overall, the bowling looked pretty solid with both spinners proving to be economical. In reply, Punjab played positive cricket throughout the chase and were able to get the victory in the final over.

The man of the moment, Liam Livingstone is down for a chat. He says that they did a lot well and the spinners dragged things back in the middle as the pitch got better under lights as well. Reckons that it is a pretty good start as a team for them. Adds that they have got a really good outfit and have options in the bowling and even after that flourish in the final over from Delhi, they did have the batting to chase it down. Mentions that he is just happy to have clinched the win and it has been a tough year for him batting-wise and appreciates the group and the hard work that he put in for his success. On Sam Curran, he says that they have got options and batting in that middle order will be pretty fun.

Rishab Pant, the skipper of Delhi says that Ishant Sharma's injury was crucial and it was evident that they played one bowler short. Appreciate Abishek Porel's knock and the bowlers for taking it deep. Mentions that they had a par score and with one bowler short they couldn't do much about it. Adds that the wicket played exactly how they wanted it to and credits Punjab for the way they played. Concludes that Porel's inning was a standout and the impact on the game was pretty big.

Delhi were already a bowler short when they decided to bring in Abishek Porel as an Impact Player late in their innings due to the middle order faltering and things got even worse when Ishant Sharma had to hobble off the field after having bowled just a couple of overs and that too after pickings up a couple of wickets, one with the ball and one in the field. Khaleel Ahmed has been a match-winner for Delhi in recent times but he was completely off his game and so was Mitchell Marsh as the pair of them got hammered. Kuldeep Yadav bowled a sensational spell picking up two wickets and along with Axar Patel got Delhi back in the game. Khaleel did bowl a pretty decent penultimate over and picked up two wickets which could have been three but David Warner put down a catch and also an earlier chance put down by Tristan Stubbs of Sam Curran proved to be really costly for them.

Punjab were aggressive throughout the chase and even when they lost a couple of wickets in quick succession twice, they just kept going at it. It was a stellar start from skipper Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow but the former got out soon after and in the very same over, Jonny had an unfortunate dismissal. Prabhsimran Singh and Sam Curran then put on a quick stand with the former really going after the bowlers. Singh too fell and Jitesh Sharma followed suit after never looking settled at the crease. However, Curran held up one end and then opened up his arms when the opportunity came and so did Liam Livingstone. Curran got out on a valiant 63 in the penultimate over and Shashank Singh fell on the very next delivery but Livingstone kept his cool and finished things off in style in the final over.

Pheww, a bit of a nervy ending there but Punjab have managed to pull through and have started their campaign with a win. However, for Delhi, they have lost their opening fixture just like last season and have a lot to ponder upon. A new home ground for Punjab and maybe a new beginning as well for them as they notch up a win in their season opener at the new PCA Stadium in Mullanpur, Mohali in the final over.

SIX! Liam Livingstone doing what he is known for! Punjab win the first game by 4 wickets and get a win on their new home venue. A length delivery, outside off, Liam Livingstone frees his arms and deposits it miles into the sky over deep mid-wicket fence for a maximum to finish things off in some style.

On a fuller length, outside off, Liam Livingstone drives it straight to mid off.

WIDE! Bangs the deck hard over middle and off, the ball climbs further up over the batter and the umpire calls it a wide.

WIDE! Bangs it short and wayward of off, Liam Livingstone leaves it alone for a wide.

Who will bowl the final over? It will be Sumit Kumar and he has only 5 runs to play with. Had that catch been taken off the previous delivery, the debutant would have been breathing just a bit easier but will now have to conjure up something magical here.

Oh dear, has David Warner put down the catch that could have possibly given Delhi the advantage heading into the final over? Ahmed drops the length and hits the deck hard over off, Harpreet Brar mistimes his pull in front of long on where David Warner does everything to get to it and settles under it but spills it off his hands at the very end moment. The batters scamper for a couple of runs.

Bangs it shorter and just outside off at 140.3 kph, Harpreet Brar looks to upper cut but misses out by the pace on it.