Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Delhi Capitals by nine wickets thanks to a ferocious Powerplay spell that all but ended the match in the first three overs in their IPL match in New Delhi on Monday.
RCB fired a devastating new-ball spell to write one of the most spectacular openers in IPL history. It was carnage of the highest kind, a powerplay onslaught so ruthless that Delhi Capitals never fully recovered.
With two brutal three-over bursts, Josh Hazlewood (4/12) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/5) converted the powerplay into a demolition act, leaving the hosts stunned at 13 for six.
The only players to score in double figures were David Miller (19), Kyle Jamieson (12), and Abhishek Porel (30). Eight fours and a six were scored by the home team.
Delhi finally avoided the shame of having the lowest IPL total, managing only 75 in 16.3 overs. In 2017, RCB scored 49 against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Virat Kohli (23), Jacob Bethell (20), and Devdutt Padikkal (34) finished the chase in 6.3 overs, scoring 77/1.
Within the first three overs, Delhi was put to survival mode by the opening bowlers. The contest became one-sided almost immediately due to their unrelenting accuracy and movement.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s in-dipping yorker to uproot debutant Sahil Parakh’s middle stump on the second ball of the innings set the stage for complete devastation.
Josh Hazlewood transformed what may have been a warning shot into a complete collapse. Last-match centurion KL Rahul (1) and Sameer Rizvi (0) were removed off consecutive deliveries by the Australian fast, sending shockwaves through the crowded stadium.
Rizvi edged a draw as he played away from his body with no discernible footwork, while Rahul mishandled one after the ball became huge on him.
There was no break. With total control over swing and seam, Bhuvneshwar came back to make Delhi’s suffering worse by dismissing Tristan Stubbs (5). When Stubbs attempted to jab at a length delivery, it flew safely into Devdutt Padikkal’s hands at slip.
The carnage peaked a few moments later. As startled hush descended upon the home crowd, Delhi captain Axar Patel (0) fell without bothering the scorers, nicking an enticing outswinger from Bhuvneshwar behind to Jitesh.
The Capitals were quickly reduced to an unimaginable 8/5 in just three overs and then 9/6, a collapse so bizarre that it seemed more like a theatrical script than a sporting event.
A batting lineup that appeared shell-shocked and lacking solutions has been totally outplayed, humiliated, and decimated by the RCB pacers.
In the Powerplay overs, DC mustered just one boundary, which came from Stubbs’ bat. The hosts were left reeling at 13/6, with Nitish Rana (1) being the third victim of the Australian fast.
Hazlewood’s dismissal of Porel to end the Capitals innings was just fitting.
