PUNE, India, CMC – Rovman Powell’s slow start to his Indian Premier League career continued yesterday, the West Indies batsman flattering to deceive in Delhi Capitals’ 14-man defeat to Gujarat Titans.
Asked to chase 172 at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Capitals could only muster 157 for nine from their 20 overs, with Powell lashing 20 from 13 balls in an exciting albeit brief appearance.
Captain Rishabh Pant top-scored with 43 from 29 deliveries while Lalit Yadav got 25 from 22 balls but Capitals lacked momentum throughout their innings and found themselves without too much left to do at the back end.
New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson undermined them, snatching four for 28 while new-ball seamer Mohammed Shami snared two for 30 – including the wicket of Powell in the 18th over with the required run rate having climbed steeply.
Sent in earlier, Titans were lifted to a competitive 171 for six off their 20 overs by opener Shubman Gill’s 84 off 46 deliveries, the 22-year-old lashing half-dozen fours and four sixes. He put on 42 for the second wicket with Vijay Shankar (16), 65 for the third wicket with captain Hardik Pandya (31) and another 36 for the fourth wicket with David Miller (20 not out), before perishing in the 18th over to a catch at mid-wicket off left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed (2-34).
In reply, Titans slumped to 34 for three in the fifth over before being revived by Pant, who struck seven fours, and Lalit, who counted two fours and a six, the pair putting on a crucial 61 for the fourth wicket.
A Ferguson burst led to a slide which saw six wickets tumble for 48 runs, with Powell one of the casualties after pummeling two fours and a six, missing a swing at Shami and falling lbw.
The 28-year-old, picked up by Capitals in the IPL draft for US$373 000, failed to score on debut last week against Kieron Pollard’s Mumbai Indians.
Titans have won both their games to date while the loss was the first for Capitals in three outings.