Opening batsman Prithvi Shaw has continued his exceptional form from the Vijay Hazare Trophy to now in the Indian Premier League as he helped the Delhi Capitals chase down the 155-run target against the Kolkata Knight Riders in just 16.3 overs.
Shaw started the innings with a bang, smashing six fours in the first over itself as the Capitals were 25/0 after the first over itself. That blow just demoralised the Kolkata Knight Riders so much, that they couldn't pick themselves up from that and it looked like a formality to complete for the men in blue, from then on.
They were 67/0 in the powerplay itself chasing a total of 155 runs. Soon, Shaw brought up his half-century off just 18 balls, the fastest in this edition surpassing Deepak Hooda's 20-ball fifty against the Rajasthan Royals earlier inn this season. Shaw's partner at the other end Shikhar Dhawan played the situation and went past Faf du Plessis in the race for the orange cap and reached the 300-run mark this season.
Shaw kept pressing the accelerator as he wanted to finish the game in a hurry. The duo brought up their 2nd century partnership this year and were coasting along nicely for a convincing victory without losing any wickets. However, after stitched a 132-run partnership in just 83 balls, Pat Cummins came and hurt those chances.
He first removed Dhawan, who played a measured innings of 46 runs off just 47 balls. Then he also sent back Shaw, who scored 82 runs off just 41 balls including 11 fours and three sixes. If that wasn't enough skipper Rishabh Pant also gave his wicket away to the KKR pacer in trying to finish the game with a glory shot.
But, it was Marcus Stoinis and Shimron Hetmyer who took the Capitals across the finish line.
Earlier, part-timer Lalit Yadav and Capitals' rising star this year Avesh Khan helped the Delhi side restrict the Knight Riders to 154/6 despite Andre Russell's unbeaten knock of 45 runs off 27 balls.
