TATA IPL 2024: Curran, Livingstone lead PBKS to 4-wicket win over DC in IPL opener

Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone shone with the bat as Punjab Kings launched their 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season with a thrilling four-wicket victory against Delhi Capitals at their newly inaugurated home venue, the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.

In a back-and-forth contest between the North Indian teams, Punjab Kings maintained a consistent lead, particularly after Ishant Sharma of Delhi Capitals left the field due to a twisted right ankle while fielding. This setback impacted the effectiveness of DC's bowlers, with the exception of an outstanding performance by Kuldeep Yadav, while dropped catches added to their challenges. Sam Curran led the scoring with 63 runs, supported by Liam Livingstone's unbeaten 38, as Punjab Kings successfully chased down the target with four balls to spare, reaching 177/6 in 19.2 overs after limiting Delhi Capitals to 174/9 in their allotted 20 overs.

Chasing 175, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow hit two fours each in the 17-run opening over by Khaleel Ahmed. Ishant Sharma began with three wides, as Dhawan took a boundary each off him and Mitchell Marsh. But Ishant bounced back as his length ball went past Dhawan’s swipe across the line to hit the stumps.

Prabhsimran Singh got going with two fours, but Jonny Bairstow was run out at the non-striker's end as Ishant got a finger-tip on a drive by Prabhsimran and crashed into the stumps. Prabhsimran hit two wow fours off Khaleel – pulling over mid-wicket on the back foot and driving on the front foot wide of cover.

DC suffered a big blow when Ishant walked off the field after badly twisting his right ankle while trying to throw the ball from the deep. The 42-run stand between Prabhsimran and Curran ended in the tenth over when the former went for a loft on a googly from Kuldeep Yadav and holed out to long-on.

Two overs later, Jitesh Sharma fell victim to a stumping by Pant while attempting a reverse sweep off Kuldeep Yadav. Curran received a fortunate break at 34 runs when Tristan Stubbs dropped his catch at long-on off Kuldeep during the 14th over. Adding insult to injury, Curran struck two boundaries off Marsh in the following over, while Livingstone concluded the 18-run over with a massive six over mid-wicket. As Curran reached his fifty in 38 balls, Livingstone secured a pair of fours off Khaleel, keeping Punjab Kings in contention for victory. Curran continued his boundary spree by executing hooks and cuts off Marsh for six and four, while Livingstone wrapped up another 18-run over for PBKS by hooking him for a six.

Khaleel made a comeback by dismissing Curran with a slower ball, ending his 67-run partnership with Livingstone in 42 balls. He followed it up by removing Shashank Singh for a golden duck on successive deliveries. Khaleel could have claimed his third wicket of the 19th over if Warner hadn't dropped Harpreet Brar at long-on. Livingstone then concluded the chase emphatically by smashing a six over mid-wicket off Sumit, propelling their campaign to a sensational start.