Mohammed Shami is currently the best yorker bowler in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 according to Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) all-rounder Glenn Maxwell after KXIP registered a five-wicket win over Delhi Capitals.
Nicholas Pooran and Glenn Maxwell played vital knocks of 53 and 32 respectively as Kings XI Punjab defeated Delhi Capitals by five wickets on Tuesday here at the Dubai International Stadium. Punjab chased down the total of 165 with six balls to spare as Shikhar Dhawan’s ton went in vain.
Mohammed Shami Praised By Glenn Maxwell As KXIP Won 3rd Successive Game With One Over Left
With this win, KXIP has gone up to the fifth position in the points table with 8 points from 10 matches from four wins while Delhi Capitals is still at the top of the table with 14 points from 10 matches.
“It was good that we did not take the match till the last over and got it done with six balls to spare. It’s a great thing for the entire team, we have got three wins in a row at the moment, feeling is great amongst the group. We are getting some momentum at the right time and hopefully we can stay into that kind of form,” said Maxwell in a video posted on the official Twitter handle of KXIP.
KXIP has now defeated Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians in their last three matches which saw the return of Chris Gayle. KXIP had defeated Mumbai Indians in a double Super Over on Sunday.
“Shami, he is probably the best yorker bowler in the competition at the moment, the way he’s executing under pressure, we all saw the way he defended that Super Over last game against Mumbai,” said Maxwell.
“He has been exceptional for us, he kept it to a score that we all thought was maybe 10 or 15 below par so hats off to him. He has been outstanding for us,” he added.
Mohammed Shami became the 2nd highest wicket-taker with 16 wickets averaging 20.37 in 10 matches with a best of 3/15. He has 56 wickets now in 61 games averaging 33.44. The list is headed by Kagiso Rabada of Delhi Capitals who took 2/27 against Punjab.
Mohammed Shami Picks 2/28 As Shikhar Dhawan’s Century Goes In Vain
Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan’s unbeaten knock of 106 runs guided Delhi Capitals to 164/5 in the allotted 20 overs against KXIP. The left-handed Shikhar Dhawan also became the first cricketer to score back to back centuries in IPL.
For Punjab, pacer Mohammed Shami returned with the best figures as got conceded just 28 runs and took the wickets of all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and West Indian batsman Shimron Hetmyer in the 18th and 20th over.
Shikhar Dhawan continued his fine form as he became the first cricketer to score successive centuries in 2 matches first against CSK in a winning cause and next against Punjab when the team lost after the other batsmen could not score beyond 14.
Shikhar Dhawan scored the bulk of the runs, but Delhi managed only 164/5 as Punjab won. KXIP skipper KL Rahul continues to lead the highest run-scorer list with 540 runs averaging 67.5 in 10 matches while Shikhar Dhawan is 2nd with 465 runs averaging 66.42. Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will next take on SunRisers Hyderabad on October 24 at the Dubai International Stadium.