Delhi Capitals make dubious IPL history

By Lithira Ekanayaka

In their last match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Delhi Capitals suffered a heavy loss as they were bowled out for just 75 runs, marking the lowest score of this season’s IPL so far.

Having been put in to bat, Delhi lost six wickets inside the power-play for just eight runs, resembling a football scoreline rather than a cricket scoreboard. 

By the end of the power-play, they only managed to get 13 runs on the board, registering the lowest total in the first six overs of a full IPL game.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s mastery of swing and Josh Hazlewood’s effective use of the short ball decimated the Delhi top order, with none of the batters reaching double figures. 

Owing to contributions from Abishek Porel and David Miller in the lower order, Delhi narrowly avoided registering the lowest-ever IPL total of 49. 

Porel scored 30 off 33 balls, including three fours, while Miller added 19 off 18 deliveries with one boundary.

Bhuvneshwar ended his fiery spell with three wickets, for just five runs in three overs at an economy of 1.67 while Hazlewood, on the other hand, breathed fire as usual, grabbing four wickets for 12 runs in 3.3 overs. 

Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma and Rasikh Salam chipped in with a wicket each.

Royal Challengers Bangalore chased down the target with ease inside seven overs, losing just one wicket in the process. 

Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with a blistering 34 off 13 balls, including three sixes and three fours. 

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, who made 23 off 15 balls, achieved another milestone by becoming the first player to score 9000 IPL runs.

Hazlewood was deservedly named Player of the Match for his outstanding spell of fast bowling.