Kings XI Punjab’s Sam Curran took a hat-trick and finished with figures of 4/11 as Delhi Capitals lost their last seven wickets for eight runs in the span of 16 balls. In the process the Shreyas Iyer-led side capitulated from being 144 /4 to 152 all out, while chasing 167 in Mohali.
This is also the first hat-trick of the 12th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as Sam Curran became the youngest bowler to take a hat-trick in IPL. At 20 years and 302 days, Sam overtook Rohit Sharma, who took a hat-trick against Deccan Chargers in the 2009 edition of the IPL at 22 years and 6 days.
Curran’s hat-trick victims included Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada and Sandeep Lamicchane. Chasing 167 for victory, Delhi were placed comfortably at 144/2 with Rishabh Pant (39) and Colin Ingram (38) at the crease.
However, once Delhi lost, Ingram, in the 18th over off Curran, Delhi lost track of their run-chase. Curran then came back in the final over to take a hat-trick and close the game for Punjab.
Earlier Delhi skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to field first. A combined effort from the Delhi bowlers helped them restrict Punjab to a manageable total. Chris Morris took 3 for 30, while Kagiso Rabada took 2 for 32 and Sandeep Lamichhane took 2 for 27.
But the night belonged to England’s Sam Curran. Apart from the hat-trick with the ball, Curran scored a quickfire 20 off 10 balls after he replaced Gayle at the top of the batting order, who was sitting out with an injury.
His contribution also becomes important in the context that he was dropped after Punjab played their campaign opener with Rajasthan and was ignored for the next two.
Twitter was all praise for Curran’s on-field heroics. Here are some of the best tweets on Curran’s feat:
