Page 39 - The Indian EYE 042823

SPORTS APRIL 28, 2023 | The Indian Eye 39

Rana added.
Even though Nitish failed to per-
form with the bat, he stepped up with
the ball and ended up picking two
wickets in four overs and gave away
17 runs. Still, his performance with
the ball was not enough to clinch the
victory for KKR.
Chasing the lowest total of 127 in
this year’s IPL, David Warner seemed
in his natural style, hitting bowler
from the start. However, Prithvi Shaw
continued to disappoint with his bad
form, he gave his wicket to Varun
Chakravarthy scoring just 13 off 11
balls in the 5th over.
DC reached the 50-run mark with
ease in 5.3 overs. By punishing Sunil
Nairne’s 6th over conceding 17 runs,
DC scored 61/1 after the powerplay.
KKR’s light of hope came with the
dismissal of Mitchell Marsh followed
by Phil Salt in the 9th and 10 overs.
Warner clinched his fourth fifty
this season off 33 balls comprising ten
fours. Varun with his second wicket
gave a big breakthrough to KKR by
clearing set-in batter Warner at 57 off
41 balls.
In the last over, DC needed 7
runs. With the help of one no-ball,
DC chased down the total in 19.2
overs with four wickets.

“I was just waiting for my
chance”: Ishant Sharma

ndian veteran pace bowler Ishant
Sharma made a remarkable de-
Ibut in the Indian Premier League Delhi Capitals’ Ishant Sharma in action during the match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday (ANI)
(IPL) 2023 against Kolkata Knight
Riders on Thursday at Arun Jaitley
Stadium. hant concluded. League 2023, picking up a four-wicket important for me, because I used to
Ishant set the tone of the match Even though Delhi marked an haul against Punjab Kings. On being get hit for boundaries very often be-
by picking up two crucial wickets of exceptional performance with the adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’, fore that. I worked on my plans, my
in-form KKR skipper Nitish Rana ball, their struggles with the bat con- Siraj said he is reaping the dividends fitness and my bowling and it’s all pay-
and Sunil Narine cheaply for scores of tinued. of his hard work during the lockdown. ing dividends now.”
4(7) and 4(6) respectively. In his eco- Chasing the lowest total of 127 in The 137-run opening stand be- “I always try to improve in every
nomical spell, he ended up conceding this year’s IPL, David Warner seemed tween Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis department of the game because I un-
19 runs. Ishant became one of those in his natural style, hitting bowler followed by Siraj’s superb bowling derstand it is important to contribute
players who capitalized on the oppor- from the start. However, Prithvi Shaw powered Royal Challengers Banga- in whichever way possible,” RCB Pac-
tunity when it presented itself. For his continued to disappoint with his bad lore (RCB) to a 24-run win against er added.
heroics with the ball, he received the form, he gave his wicket to Varun Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their Indian Siraj said he altered his lines and
Man of the Match award in the post- Chakravarthy scoring just 13 off 11 Premier League (IPL) 2023 at Punjab lengths according to the pitch, adding
match presentation. “I was just wait- balls in the 5th over. Cricket Association IS Bindra Sta- that though initially he was bowling
ing for my chance. I wanted to win a DC reached the 50-run mark with dium on Thursday. The exceptional short, he understood soon enough
game for the team whenever I will get ease in 5.3 overs. By punishing Sunil bowling of Mohammed Siraj saw the that there was swing on offer and
a chance,” said Ishant Sharma after Nairne’s 6th over conceding 17 runs, RCB send back Atharva Taide and he then switched to bowling fuller
the match. DC scored 61/1 after the powerplay. Liam Livingstone for 4 and 2 runs lengths which helped him bag his first
As Ishant’s performance lifted KKR’s light of hope came with the respectively. Siraj finished with two wicket of the evening.
the spirits of DC’s team, they would dismissal of Mitchell Marsh followed more wickets in the 18th over, dis- “My first ball was a bit short but
now look to make a comeback in the by Phil Salt in the 9th and 10 overs. missing Harpreet Brar and Nathan then I sensed the need to bowl full to
group stage just like Mumbai Indians Lockdown was important: Mo- Ellis. Wanindu Hasaranga claimed get some swing,” Siraj said.
did in the previous seasons of the IPL. hammed Siraj two and Harshal Patel and Wayne On his fielding performance, he
“We would want to win every Royal challengers Bangalore pac- Parnell scalped a wicket apiece. said, “I have always rated myself as a
game from here on, qualify, and er Mohammed Siraj delivered his best At the post-match presentation, decent fielder. Misfields can happen
hopefully win the tournament,” Is- performance in the Indian Premier Siraj said, “The lockdown was really but I take my fielding seriously.”

www.TheIndianEYE.com