Magazine : 
TATA IPL 2024: Pant, Stubbs Shine in Vain as KKR Clinches 106-Run Victory Over DC
Captain Rishabh Pant and Tristan Stubbs both delivered captivating half-centuries for Delhi Capitals. However, Kolkata Knight Riders maintained their winning streak with a commanding 106-run victory in match 16 of IPL 2024 at the ACA-VDCA Stadium, making the chase appear effortless in the end.
Pursuing a target of 273 was always going to pose a challenge for DC. However, Pant further showcased his successful comeback to competitive cricket by smashing five sixes and four boundaries in a brisk 25-ball 55, while Stubbs contributed with eight boundaries in his 32-ball 54, aiding the hosts in salvaging some pride. Nevertheless, they were ultimately bundled out for 166 in 17.2 overs.
Following their batsmen's impressive performance in setting a formidable total of 272, KKR showcased effective bowling led by Mitchell Starc and Vaibhav Arora, further supported by Andre Russell, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Sunil Narine. Their collective effort resulted in a commanding 106-run victory, propelling them to the top of the points table. This victory also marks the first instance of KKR beginning an IPL season with three consecutive wins.
The move of bringing in Arora as an Impact Player paid off for KKR as he removed Prithvi Shaw, who was caught at mid-on taking an excellent low catch. Starc picked his first wicket of the season as Mitchell Marsh nailed the square drive but hit straight to cover-point. Arora was great in extracting movement off the pitch and was rewarded with his second wicket when Abishek Porel top-edged a pull to short fine leg. Starc also had his second scalp when David Warner chopped onto his stumps, leaving DC at 33/4.
Pant began to find his groove by flicking Starc for six before bringing out a nice pick-up shot over deep square leg and pulling in the same region off Russell. Stubbs began with back-to-back fours off Arora and welcomed Chakaravarthy with a brace of sixes over mid-wicket and mid-on to bring up the fifty of the fifth-wicket stand with Pant.
Despite the spinners applying pressure on DC's scoring, Pant displayed an aggressive approach with his shot selection, power, and adept use of pace, particularly targeting part-timer Venkatesh Iyer, whom he amassed 28 runs from. Pant unleashed trademark hook and pick-up shots for sixes, alongside flicks, slices, whips, and slashes for boundaries, reaching his fifty in just 23 balls.
However, Chakravarthy outwitted Pant as he mistimed his slog-sweep, resulting in a catch to cover. In quick succession, the spinner also claimed the wicket of Axar Patel on the following delivery. Stubbs managed to accumulate two sixes and a four to reach his fifty but was eventually dismissed by Chakaravarthy. Subsequently, Narine, Arora, and Russell each took three wickets apiece to secure a resounding victory for KKR.
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