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'Never seen that': Ricky Ponting left stunned over insane IPL drama

Yahoo Sport Australia

England rising star Sam Curran has claimed the first hat-trick of this season’s Indian Premier League to help Kings XI Punjab beat Ricky Ponting’s Delhi Capitals by 14 runs on Monday.

Curran returned figures of 4-11 in just 2.2 overs as Delhi lost their last seven wickets for eight runs and were bowled out for 152 in their chase of 167 in Mohali.

The Capitals looked to be cruising at 3-144 in the 17th over, with Rishabh Pant and Colin Ingram at the crease.

But they lost their final seven wickets in stunning fashion as the Kings XI bowlers ripped through the batting line-up.

The 7-8 collapse is the worst in IPL history, eclipsing the previous worst of 7-12 by Deccan Chargers in 2009.

The 20-year-old Curran, who was bought by Punjab for $1 million in the Twenty20 auction in December, also hit 20 off 10 deliveries while opening the batting in place of Chris Gayle, as Kings XI made 166 for nine.

“Just came out here trying to impress. Luckily we managed to scratch a score above 150 and the bowlers were superb,” he said after receiving the man of the match award.

Ricky Ponting could only watch on in shock. Image: IPL
Ricky Ponting could only watch on in shock. Image: IPL

“I have opened in school cricket but this is probably the first time in senior cricket,” added Curran, a left-arm medium pacer and a left-handed batsman.

He then removed Colin Ingram, caught at long-off for 38.

But Curran stole the show, and the match, with his innings-ending hat-trick.

He had Harshal Patel caught off the last delivery of his second over for nought and then came back to bowl Kagiso Rabada and Sandeep Lamichhane, both on zero, and end the Delhi innings in 19.2 overs.

“The crowd was so loud, I couldn’t hear my own thoughts,” the youngster said when asked how he felt.

Sam Curran was the star. Image: IPL
Sam Curran was the star. Image: IPL

Curran was singled out as a “game changer” by Virat Kohli after England beat visiting India 4-1 in a test series last year.

Indian paceman Mohammed Shami complimented Curran with two wickets, including the dangerous Rishabh Pant, who top-scored with 39, as Delhi’s batting imploded.

Punjab skipper Ravichandran Ashwin, who was slammed for his controversial ‘Mankad’ dismissal of England batsman Jos Buttler in an IPL game last week, also took two wickets.

with AFP