IPL 2023 | Capitals Prevail Over Hardik Pandya’s Titans Despite Tewatia Scare
Ishant Sharma celebrates Rahul Tewatia's wicket (IPLT20.COM)
Delhi Capitals: 130/8 in 20 overs [Aman Hakim Khan 51 (44), Axar Patel 27 (30); Mohammed Shami 4/11 (4), Mohit Sharma 2/33 (4)] beat Gujarat Titans: 125-6 in 20 overs [Hardik Pandya 59* (53), Abhinav Manohar 26 (33); Ishant Sharma 2/23 (4), Khaleel Ahmed 2/24 (4)]
In a clash of the IPL 2023 opposites, Delhi Capitals upstaged table-toppers Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
After early wickets, Capitals surge to 130 with Khan’s 51
Delhi Capitals opening woe continues to haunt them as both their openers departed within the first seven balls of the match. Phil Salt, who has been preferred over Prithvi Shaw off late, was sent back to the pavilion by Mohammed Shami for a first-ball duck. His senior partner and captain David Warner departed soon after for just two via a smart runout from Rashid Khan.
Being reduced to 73-6 after their first 14 overs, young all-rounder Aman Hakim Khan displayed his skills with the bat on a tricky Ahmedabad wicket, top-scoring for his side with a calculated 44-ball 51. His innings, coupled with Ripal Patel’s death overs cameo and Axar Patel’s crucial 27 lifted the Capitals score to 130-8.
Titans speedster Mohammed Shami inflicted the most damage on the Capitals, as the veteran snared four wickets off his spell at the expense of just 11 runs. He was ably assisted by seasoned campaigner Mohit Sharma, who also claimed two wickets in the innings.
Capitals combine efforts strangle Titans in run-chase
Much like the visiting Capitals side, hosts Gujarat Titans also lost both their openers cheaply. Wriddhiman Saha batted out the opening over for a maiden before becoming first of Khaleel Ahmed’s two victims of the evening. Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar managed just six runs each while David Miller was cleaned up by Kuldeep Yadav for a duck.
At 32-4, captain Hardik Pandya steered his side thereafter and formed crucial stands with Abhinav Manohar and IPL cult hero Rahul Tewatia. Pandya himself batted cautiously, and consumed 53 deliveries to score an unbeaten 59.
With 33 runs to get from the final two overs, Tewatia launched Capitals’ South African speed gun Anrich Nortje for three successive sixes to tilt the pendulum back in his side’s favour. However, his dismissal by Ishant Sharma off the final over left Rashid Khan to get nine off the last two balls.
Sharma’s pace and accuracy proved too good for Khan as the Capitals prevailed by five runs in a low-scoring thriller.
Despite the shock defeat, Hardik Pandya and co. continue to remain at the top of the points table, while the Capitals remain at the bottom. However, the latest win for the Warner’s unit continues their late insurgency this season, with an aim to reboot their campaign after winless five matches upfront.
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