211/8 (20.0)
CR : 10.55
232/9 (20.0)
CR : 11.60
Central Delhi Kings won by 21 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Money Grewal
2/5442(16)
Earlier, Central Delhi Kings produced a sensational batting display to post 232/9 in their 20 overs, the highest team total of this year's DPL. The table-toppers got off to a flying start, racing to 78 in the powerplay, with Samarth Singh smashing 37 off 14 balls and Siddharth Joon adding 33 off 17.
11:33 PM IST, Local Time: West Delhi Lions gave it everything but ultimately fell 21 runs short, bringing their playoff hopes to an end. With this being a must-win clash, the defeat officially eliminates the defending champions from the tournament. Their loss also seals playoff spots for Purani Dilli 6, South Delhi Superstarz and Outer Delhi Warriors.
Nitish Rana (West Delhi Lions Captain): "[How do you reflect on the match?] I think when you play cricket like this, losing doesn't feel that bad because I believe we didn't bowl as well as we could have, and we could have done a little better there. But the way we started the chase and the way we started chasing 230 runs was very important. I wanted us to play that kind of cricket from Day 1, but in and out of the team, there are always a lot of things happening. I also couldn't play all 10 out of 10 games because of personal reasons. I'm sure if I had played all 10 games, we would have been in a much better position.
There is definitely 100 percent scope for improvement. I don't feel like there was much of a gap in my own performance, but we'll take the experience and try to come back with an improved group next year and fight for the tournament.
[Do you think that your wicket was the turning point of the match?] I'd like to believe that, because I was batting in my zone, and it's very difficult to keep coming into that zone repeatedly for any batter or any player. I knew how difficult it was for the bowler, and I was batting in that zone. Unfortunately, I wasn't supposed to get out, but I did, so personally I believe that it did hurt us.
[Positives?] I think there is a lot to learn from losing. But even when you win, there is a lot to learn. Last season, I said the same thing — you definitely want to win, but there is also a lot to improve. I won't say that we didn't improve those things, but as a collective, as a team and as a group, perhaps we didn't get where we wanted to. But individually, there were a lot of good performances. As a group, we took a few steps forward, and because of that, today we are out of the tournament. There's no point dwelling on it now."
There is definitely 100 percent scope for improvement. I don't feel like there was much of a gap in my own performance, but we'll take the experience and try to come back with an improved group next year and fight for the tournament.
[Do you think that your wicket was the turning point of the match?] I'd like to believe that, because I was batting in my zone, and it's very difficult to keep coming into that zone repeatedly for any batter or any player. I knew how difficult it was for the bowler, and I was batting in that zone. Unfortunately, I wasn't supposed to get out, but I did, so personally I believe that it did hurt us.
[Positives?] I think there is a lot to learn from losing. But even when you win, there is a lot to learn. Last season, I said the same thing — you definitely want to win, but there is also a lot to improve. I won't say that we didn't improve those things, but as a collective, as a team and as a group, perhaps we didn't get where we wanted to. But individually, there were a lot of good performances. As a group, we took a few steps forward, and because of that, today we are out of the tournament. There's no point dwelling on it now."
It's time for the post-match presentation......
Jonty Sidhu (Central Delhi Kings Captain): "[On scoring over 230 runs without a single individual fifty] Everyone who walked in was looking to bat positively and play according to their ability. That’s why we managed to score over 230 without a single individual fifty — everyone contributed and kept the momentum going.
[On knocking out the team that defeated them in last year's final] We had lost to them in the final last year, so we knew we couldn’t take them lightly. We wanted to treat this as a revenge game."
[On knocking out the team that defeated them in last year's final] We had lost to them in the final last year, so we knew we couldn’t take them lightly. We wanted to treat this as a revenge game."
Player of the Match: Money Grewal
Money Grewal (POTM): "[On his batting] I had practised my batting in the nets, and the team management backed me. I was also confident that I could contribute whenever I got an opportunity to bat.
[On his bowling] I try to give my team a good start with the bat and pick up wickets with the new ball."
[On his bowling] I try to give my team a good start with the bat and pick up wickets with the new ball."
That’s all from this high-scoring contest, folks! The defending champions, West Delhi Lions, have been eliminated from the tournament after falling short in this must-win clash.
Their defeat has secured playoff berths for Purani Dilli 6, South Delhi Superstarz and Outer Delhi Warriors. Central Delhi Kings had already secured the top spot and were the only team to qualify for the playoffs before this contest. With that, we now have our four playoff teams confirmed.
For now, it’s me, Deepak Prakash, signing off from this space along with scorer/anlyst Sahil Khan. CHEERS!