Jayawardene wrecks a good over by swiveling across his stumps and putting away a long hop high over deep midwicket
Daredevils vs Kings XI, 40th match at Delhi, IPL, May 17 2008 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Kings XI won by 6 runs (D/L method)
The rain pelts down! The two batsmen dash back to the pavilion. Punjab are ahead by five runs in D/L method at this stage (the target was 89). Sehwag and a few of his team-mates have a word with the umpires. There's plenty of confusion here as the groundstaff finally get the covers out after a delay. Yuvraj is out on the field. The square is yet to be covered though. Yuvraj is a bit concerned. A few Delhi players get together and their body language suggests that they think the match is over. And as I write the main covers are finally coming out.
We're well past the cut off time of 12.00 AM. It's 12.10 as I write this. The game looks all but over at this stage. If play doesn't continue, Punjab will be declared the winners.
Alright it's official. Kings XI Punjab have won by 6 runs by the D/L method. Had Delhi not scored off that ball, the game would have been tied! Imagine a bowl-out after all this drama....
One over by Sehwag, which cost 22 runs, was the turning point. The pulled six by Jayawardene off Rajat Bhatia sealed it. The margin for error in shortened games is so limited that one false move can cost you the match. Disappointment for the thousands at the Kolta who showed up, braved the zillion rain interruptions, only to see their side go down on a technicality.
Punjab have 14 points, at second place, while Delhi are at No.5, just below Mumbai Indians. Delhi will have to fight it out for a semi-final spot. Stay with us for the presentation, which will take place indoors.
Punjab are serious contenders alongwith Rajasthan for the title.
Here's Sehwag: "We were going really well but the weather interrupted everything. The moment we came after the rain, I lost the momentum and that's why we didn't score enough runs."
Yuvraj: "We batted well in the last five overs and that worked out well for us. It was good to chase as well. The confidence is really high. Mahela is a smart cricketer, he knows his game well and that's why we won today."
Jayawardene is the Man of the Match: "With the rain we knew it was going to be tough. We (Luke) decided to take it as long as possible and luckily we managed quite a few boundaries. It was one of those days where any side could have won."
One can come up with several turning points in these curtailed games. Thanks for staying with us. Rain delays and interruptions are frustrating. We hope you had fun. There's plenty to look forward to tomorrow - two more games. On behalf of Raju and Raymond, this is Kanishkaa signing off. Cheers!
fires in the yorker and he fails to dig it out, lovely stuff from Bhatia
he moves across his stumps and swings across the line a little too early, the ball lobs off his pads and trickles to short fine leg
almost foxes him with another slower one, he checks his stroke and lobs it well in front of mid-off
the slow legcutter lands wide outside off, he cuts but fails to beat point
comes round the wicket and bowls and low full toss angling on the pads, he shuffles and whips it to the deep on the on side
Here's Rajat Bhatia. Punjab are running away with this
this one skids through fast on him and the ball clips the pads and rolls to the offside, Karthik appeals half heartedly
makes room and deftly dabs this one to third man
full outside off, he pushes this to long-off for a single
They've added 52 off just 19 balls. Wow!
superb adjustment! The ball was fractionally short, he shuffles at the crease, gets on the top of the bounce and swivel-pulls it over deep square leg the ball just lands over the rope
Punjab are in front now, going along fairly comfortably
gets on his knee to a full delivery outside off and drives to third man
stays at the crease and pushes a low full toss down to long-off
Punjab are ahead by 6 runs at the end of 6 overs by D/L method
waits at the crease and plays a short arm pull, he takes a single to the deep on the on side
gets across his stumps and tucks it away to the on side
Pomersback waits at the crease, picks the flight and slogs this one off the meat of the bat and clears deep midwicket
makes room and nearly slices it wide of short third man, they scamper for a single
bowls the long hop, he decides to stay on the backfoot and clubs it over deep midwicket
full outside off and he pushes it just wide of extra cover
The scores are tied at the end of 5 overs by D/L calculation
steps down the track and squeezes out a yorker past the keeper
shot! Sehwag gives it plenty of flight on middle and leg, he gets on his knee and hoicks it over deep midwicket
Over 8 • KXIP 94/3
Kings XI won by 6 runs (D/L method)