Fresh after wins in their respective season openers, Delhi Warriors took on the Pune Panthers in their second game of the season in what turned out to be a blockbuster clash. Batting first, Delhi piled on a massive 218 runs, the highest total of the season so far, and then backed it up with an impressive bowling performance to defend the total, sealing a 59-run victory over the Pune Panthers to keep their winning streak intact.
Put in to bat first after losing the toss, Delhi Warriors were off to a flying start as the blistering opening pair of Chadwick Walton and Sreevats Goswami lit up the 1919 Sportz Stadium with a run fest. Scoring at an impressive run rate of over 11, the duo put together yet another 100-plus opening partnership, laying the foundation for the towering total.
Walton once again led the charge with a fluent 62, and after today’s innings, he moved to the top of the run-scoring charts with 190 runs from two matches, earning the Orange Cap. The scoring rate slowed in the middle overs, but quickfire knocks from Irfan Pathan and Gurkeerat Singh Mann, both scoring rapid 40-plus contributions, helped Delhi push the target to a daunting total of 218.
Chasing the steep target, Pune Panthers lost both openers early as Shane Watson and Martin Guptill fell into the spin trap of Shahbaz Nadeem. Upul Tharanga and last game’s star Shinwari then stitched together a fighting 89-run partnership to stabilise the innings. However, Delhi skipper Harbhajan Singh provided the much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Tharanga, and it wasn’t long before Nadeem struck again, this time removing the dangerous-looking Shinwari for 52 off 28 balls, as Delhi’s bowlers held their nerve to close out the contest.
Earlier in the day, Dubai Royals and Gurugram Thunders served up a last-over thriller, with the Royals edging home by three runs in a high-scoring contest. Samit Patel’s unbeaten 65 set up Dubai’s 200, while Piyush Chawla held his nerve at the death to deny Cheteshwar Pujara, who fell agonisingly short on 99, as the Thunders once again finished just shy of victory.
