In a dramatic twist of events, Delhi Capitals (DC) defeated the table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 44 of IPL 2023 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday, May 3.
Despite defending a relatively low score of 130, DC managed to edge past the formidable Titans.
Batting first, DC got off to a shaky start with them reeling at 23/5 after an outstanding opening spell by fast bowler Mohammed Shami. However, thanks to the contributions of Axar Patel (27), Aman Khan (51) and Ripal Patel (23), DC managed to post a decent total.
DC’s bowlers then put on a fantastic display to restrict the Titans. Left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed started the innings with a wicket maiden. Anrich Nortje then picked up the crucial wicket of Shubman Gill. As the Titans tried to build a partnership, veteran pacer Ishant Sharma delivered one of the best deliveries of the season to dismiss Vijay Shankar.
Sharma’s delivery was a knuckle ball at full length, which came at half the pace after pitching. Shankar was outsmarted and completely fooled by the delivery.
Here’ the video:
Deception at its best! 👊🏻
What a ball that from @ImIshant 🔥🔥#GT have lost four wickets now and this is turning out to be a tricky chase!
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/VQGP7wSZAj #TATAIPL | #GTvDC pic.twitter.com/j7IlC7vf0X
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 2, 2023
Sharma’s ball hit off and middle stumps, and he received praise from former South African cricketer and current Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bowling coach Dale Steyn, who called it the “best knuckle ball wicket” he has ever seen.
Okay, Ishant just bowled the best knuckle ball wicket I’ve ever seen!
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) May 2, 2023
Sharma then saved the best for last as he defended 12 runs in the final over of the match against the dangerous-looking Rahul Tewatia. After hitting three consecutive sixes off Nortje in the previous over, Tewatia was looking set to lead the Titans to victory. However, Sharma gave away just three runs off the first two deliveries, bowled a wide to Tewatia, and then dismissed him with a slower delivery.
With this victory, DC earned their third win of the competition and kept their playoff chances alive.
