Live Cricket Score: KXIP vs DD, IPL 2017

Done and dusted: KXIP win by 10 wickets

The target was only 68 but Martin Guptill still had enough to score a 27-ball half-century. KXIP made light work of the chase, reaching the target in 7.5 overs with all 10 wickets in the hut. Well that was super quick. This is a huge NRR boost for KXIP. Moves them up to fifth on the table. They can use this win as a springboard for the remainder of the league phase.

As far as Delhi Daredevils are concerned. It's now five straight losses. Something has to change otherwise they have a battle on their hands once more to avoid the wooden spoon.

This was quick. That's it from the blog. We have some time before the next game kicks off in Hyderabad. Join us for that. Until then, it's goodbye!

Guptill rapid in KXIP's chase

Walk in the park really for KXIP. NRR is a big incentive for Punjab boys as Guptill gets the chase offf to a flier. Guptill is in one of those marauding moods, when he hits everything off the middle of the blade. Got to only ask Morris, who's been hit over his head for a 95m six.

Easy peasy,

Daredevils bowled out for 67

Nothing went right for DD today right from the toss. Sandeep Sharma was excellent on a tacky wicket. No batsman showed the application needed to survive on such a wicket. Shambolic to say the least. KXIP won't be complaining. Here's a chance for them to give their NRR a boost.

Sigh...

Personal best for Sandeep Sharma

Excellent return after missing the last game for Sandeep Sharma. He adds the wicket of Sandeep Sharma to go with his three-wicket burst in the first spell to finish with personal best IPL figures of 4 for 20.

This after Varun Aaron struck with his first delivery off the match to bowl Corey Anderson. Delhi just haven't turned up today.

Ask the experts: What's the issue with Daredevils

33 for 6 now

Didn't the match start just sometime back. What is happening? If you thought Delhi would get some respite with the introduction of spin... think again! Rishabh Pant is the fifth to go, playing around a Maxwell delivery and getting pinged on the pads in front of the stumps. LBW! Gone.

Then, birthday boy Chris Morris chipped one back tamely to Axar Patel to leave Delhi tottering at 33 for 6. What's with all the batting collapses this season? Seen this twice from both RCB and DD this season.

Another one bites the dust:

It's the captain Karun Nair who has to walk back now. DD have lost four and have only 25 on the board. Takes Axar Patel just one ball to strike. Plays inside the line does Karun and it the ball slips past his outside edge to knock over the stumps. Timber!

Make that three: What. A. Catch

KXIP are all over DD here like a rash. And it's been all Sandeep Sharma so far. This one's straight off the top-drawer. Iyer pushes tentatively off a length delivery and the ball flies back off the outside half off the bat. Sandeep pauses for a fraction of a second and then quickly moves to his left to complete a diving catch low down to his left. Top quality. Delhi tottering here!

Two for Sandeep as a tetchy Samson falls

Sanju Samson never quite found his rhythm in this innings. He'd struggled to pierce the gaps as he had done in Pune during his fluent century. After moving to 1 of 11, he found a boundary but didn't last long after that. A leading edge was easily gobbled up by Mohit Sharma at mid-off.

An early wicket: Billings goes for a duck

Sandeep Sharma strikes early on return. Not such a happy return for Sam Billings though. Looking to guide the ball down to third man. Feathers it to the keeper. Setback straight away for Delhi. Here's the new captain, Karun Nair. Big responsibility!

Toss: KXIP bowl; No Zaheer for DD

Ok changes galore for both teams including a new captain for DD - Karun Nair! Let's get the main news out - KXIP have opted to bowl.

Let's go through the changes team by team, starting with KXIP:

OUT - Eoin Morgan, Ishant Sharma, Anureet Singh, Cariappa

IN - Hashim Amla, T Natarajan, Sandeep Sharma, Varun Aaron

DD:

OUT - Pat Cummins, Zaheer Khan, Ankit Bawne

IN - Sam Billings, Mohd. Shami, Shabaz Nadeem

Nair as captain? That's a surprise given his horror run in the season so far. Perhaps, the added responsibility will spur him on to better his returns? What do you make o the decision? Should another player have gotten the captaincy? Send in your opinions by Tweeting to @kaushik_cb.

Meanwhile, Billings and Samson walk out... Here's Sandeep Sharma!

Battle of the unfancied

It's Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils in the 36th Match of IPL 2017. Are you keeping count? If there was a popularity stakes, there are chances that these two sides (from the original 8 IPL teams) may finish at the bottom of that list.

It's conjecture of course but given that these two teams have a combined aggregate of one finals appearance between them and have changed the composition of their sides on frequent basis - it's been hard for them to garner a faithful following.

This season hasn't been any different in that common narrative. KXIP are sixth and Delhi eighth, separated at the bottom of the table only by a woeful RCB. But Delhi, who've lost four on a bounce, will still like to believe they have enough time for a turnaround given that they've played only seven games thus far.

It's a long way back for these two sides but for one today could be a start of something special... Welcome to Mohali. Here's hoping for a good encounter. Something to match last night's drama in Rajkot. Toss and Teams coming up...

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