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No let-up in intensity from Delhi
Going into the match, the Delhi Daredevils would have been fretting over Virender Shewag's illness. But David Warner's swashbuckling 79 off 44 balls made sure the league leaders did not miss the explosive India opener. Scorecard
Going into the match, the Delhi Daredevils would have been fretting over Virender Shewag's illness. But David Warner's swashbuckling 79 off 44 balls made sure the league leaders did not miss the explosive India opener.
Warner sank his teeth into the Kings XI bowling after the Delhi bowlers had done the hard work of restricting the opposition to 141/8. In the end, Delhi did manage to make the match interesting by losing four quick wickets but overhauled the target with 10 balls to spare.
In doing so they made sure Kings XI were knocked out of the playoffs' race and also cemented their position as the league toppers.
After the hammering they received in the previous match against the Royal Challengers, the match was important for Delhi's confidence, especially for the bowlers.
Playing in front of another full house at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket association (HPCA) Stadium, the crowd was treated to the clean hits for which Warner is known for, and in the end the Aussie left-hander made all the difference.
Warner shines
Playing with a long tail, which included five pacers and a spinner, Delhi needed a good start and Warner provided that with some measured shots.
He started with a six off Praveen Kumar off the third ball. KXIP failed to exert pressure on the Aussie as he kept the scoreboard ticking by hitting boundaries at will.
Warner took on Parvinder Awana, and the hero for Punjab in the last game received some stick when the Aussie carted him for three sixes and a four in the seventh over. The Aussie got a reprieve at 46, but by the time KXIP got rid of him, the result was a mere formality with Delhi needing 31 off seven overs.
KXIP come a cropper
Earlier, 141 looked a distant possibility with the home side tottering at 20 for four, but KXIP have been lucky to find domestic players who have, over the past two seasons, made their presence felt.
Two cameos from Siddharth Chitnis and Gurkeerat Mann and a sedate innings by Azhar Mahmood made sure that their bowlers had something to bowl at. Delhi went in with a pace-heavy attack and were soon awarded as KXIP lost four quick wickets.
