IPL 2019: Rishabh Pant's 21-ball blitzkrieg keeps Delhi Capitals in title hunt

Chasing 163, Delhi was in a spot of bother after twin-strikes from Khaleel Ahmed and Rashid Khan had left the Shreyas Iyer-led side reeling at 111/5. However, Rishabh Pant had other plans.

Published : May 08, 2019 23:25 IST

Rishabh Pant's 21-ball 49 helped Delhi recover in the middle overs.
Rishabh Pant's 21-ball 49 helped Delhi recover in the middle overs.
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Rishabh Pant's 21-ball 49 helped Delhi recover in the middle overs.

Delhi Capitals batsman Rishabh Pant on Wednesday put the dancing shoes on in Vizag, hammering 22 off one Basil Thampi over to sway the contest in Delhi's favour.

Chasing 163, Delhi was in a spot of bother after twin-strikes from Khaleel Ahmed and Rashid Khan had left the Shreyas Iyer-led side reeling at 111/5.

But Pant, unfazed by the fall of wickets at the other end, went hammer and tongs in the 18th over. He began by thumping a full delivery down the ground for four before launching a slower delivery over deep mid-wicket for six. He followed it up with another four and a six to snatch the advantage from Sunrisers.

"If you are set, you have to finish it for your team. Next time, I will try to finish it for my team as I got very close tonight. I just try to be positive," Pant said after the match.

"In T20s, you have to have a big over. We practise everyday with the same set of bowlers and we see the ball and not the bowler. Today, I didn't try to hit it too hard and focused on timing."

Earlier in the season, the wicket-keeper-batsman had  slammed a breathtaking 18-ball half-century during the team’s tournament opener against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.

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