Prithvi Shaw and David Warner got off to their best start of the season, with Shaw hitting 37 runs off 38 balls (7 fours, 1 six) despite taking a beating from Rabada (5 fours, 2 fours).
On Wednesday in Dharamsala, Delhi Capitals batted against the Punjab Kings, and Rilee Rossouw, batting at number three, found his form to smash his first IPL fifty. Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the Delhi Capitals got off to a great start because of Prithvi Shaw’s blistering 54 on his return after an absence of over a month. Shaw, who last played in this season’s IPL on April 20 against Kolkata Knight Riders, showed signs of form with a 50 off of just 35 balls.
Shaw faced heavy bowling from Rabada throughout his 38-ball innings (7 fours, 1 six) as he and his captain David Warner (46 from 31 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) got off to their best start of the season.
“Indeed, finally (I’m) feeling okay. You have to put forth the effort sometimes. This was the game; I had to put in a lot of effort, but you’ll receive the glory at the end. It’s catching wonderfully on the bat. It’s an excellent wicket to bat on, and the new ball is seaming a little. Dew has formed. Even before the game started, there was dew. Same thing. In the middle of an inning, he remarked, “If you find the gap, it’s going nicely along the ground.” It hurts, but I think I’ll be okay: “I stubbed my finger.”
Their 94-run opening stand was their season-high, and it was capped off by Rossouw’s maiden IPL fifty off just 25 balls.
When Rossouw hit a six-over long-off, he put his South African teammate into orbit.
The South African never looked back after that, slamming a boundary and then a magnificent pick-up six over a deep square leg.
Rabada went on to give up 36 runs in his three overs, while Sam Curran ended up with 2 for 36.
After PBKS elected to bowl, DC’s openers Warner and Shaw set up their highest opening partnership of the season, taking the team from 6 for no loss in two overs to 61 for no loss in the powerplay.
This was the second time this season that DC went the entire powerplay without losing a wicket.
Warner hit two boundaries off Curran to get DC moving before taking on Rabada.
Shaw slapped Rabada for a four, and then Warner smashed the South African pacer for two sixes in three balls, helping to produce a 17-run over.
Warner and Shaw faced up against the Punjab bowlers and sailed to fifty in just five overs.
On Wednesday, nothing went in favor of PBKS; in fact, Warner was given a life when Rahul Chahar dropped a sitter. Even after Shikhar Dhawan’s spectacular catch eliminated the Australian, DC was still on track to score 200+ runs.
