IPL 2024: Sam Curran shines as Punjab Kings open campaign with win over Delhi Capitals

Liam Livingstone played the finisher’s role to perfection as Punjab Kings beat Delhi Capitals by four wickets to kickstart their 2024 Indian Premier League campaign with a win on Saturday.

The Englishman finished unbeaten on 38 off 21 following a 67-run stand with Sam Curran as the Kings chased down the target with four balls to spare after opting to field first.

Earlier in the day, the Capitals batters followed the pattern of gift wrapping their wickets after getting their eye in on a batting friendly wicket. The Punjab bowlers kept striking at regular intervals in what was the first-ever IPL match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in Chandigarh.

The Capitals, who welcomed back captain Rishabh Pant to competitive cricket after more than a year, required a special effort from the young Abhishek Porel towards the end of the first innings to take them to 174/9 in their allotted 20 overs.

Turning point of the match

Kuldeep Yadav was in the middle of a dream spell, having already accounted for the wickets of a dangerous Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma, when he had Curran dropped off his bowling by Tristan Stubbs at long-on.

Curran, who was then batting on 33 off 27 deliveries, went on to add 30 more runs off 20...

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