IPL Week IV: Markram's return to form, Capitals close out fourth week

The Delhi Capitals closed out the fourth week of the IPL by losing their final three wickets to run-outs, but they still had the last remaining unbeaten record in the tournament.

There were four teams in a tie at the top of the log with eight points ahead of their match on Sunday, but the Capitals had played five games to the six of co-leaders Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants.

Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings are just two points behind with three wins from six and five matches respectively, while the Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad have identical records with two wins and four losses from half a dozen games.

The out-of-sorts Chennai Super Kings are anchored to the bottom with a solitary victory from six matches.

Neil Manthorp looks back at the highs and lows of Week Four.

MATCH OF THE WEEK: More one-sided matches this season than ever before, and plenty more in week four. But if it's a close finish you’re after, you might as well make it a high-scoring affair. Although the low-scoring ones are often more exciting.

Mitch Marsh (81) and Nicholas Pooran (87*) led the Lucknow Super Giants to 238 for three and the Kolkata Knight Riders slipped to 185 for seven in reply. But never discount a man who once hit five sixes in the final over to win a game. Rinku Singh couldn’t quite repeat the heroics, but 38* from 15 balls saw KKR lose by just four runs.

BEST BATTER: The 24-year-old left-hander Priyansh Arya reached a century from just 39 balls for the Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings, the fastest by an uncapped player and the fifth-fastest in IPL history.

Seven fours and nine sixes would suggest things were going well for his team – but they were 83-5 when he reached 50. Undeterred and disinclined to ‘consolidate’, he kept going, leading to a total of 219 for six and victory by 18 runs.

BEST BOWLER: In a game LSG (238-3) won by just four runs with KKR finishing on 234 for seven, it can be the bowler conceding fewest boundaries rather than collecting most wickets who makes the biggest difference. Take a bow, legspinner Digvesh Singh Rathi (4-0-33-1).

PERFORMANCE: It’s the ‘little’ things that can matter most. Rashid Khan’s four-ball innings for GT against RR in the 19th over went 6,4,2, out. Twelve runs, which helped change the total from ‘very good’ to ‘daunting’. Add in two wides as bowler Tushar Deshpande tried desperately to keep the ball away his demonic hitting zones.

Tilak Varma’s 56 from 29 balls three days after being ‘retired out’ after struggling to 25 from 23 balls wasn’t enough to lead MI (209-9) to victory against RCB (221-5) but he backed it up with 59 from 33 balls against DC in a commendable display of character after the humiliation of being substituted with the game on the line.

CLANGER: Teams might be able to carry one batsman who ‘backs’ themselves to catch up after a slow start but it’s always a risk. But when two of them do it, and both fail, then you’re doomed. Devdutt Padikkal (one off eight balls) and Jitesh Sharma (three off 11) dropped anchor and dragged RCB down to 163 for seven. Just hit the ball! Or at least push it into a gap… dot balls lose as many games as wickets.

BEST OVERSEAS PLAYER: Nicholas Pooran’s eight sixes (and seven fours) in his 87* from 36 balls put LSG (238 for three) out of reach of KKR at Eden Gardens – but only just as the scrambled home to win by four runs. Marcus Stoinis’ 34* from 11 balls for Punjab was impressive…but in a losing cause against Sunrisers.

BEST INDIAN PLAYER: Abhishek Sharma’s astonishing 141 from 55 balls deserves a place in the IPL Hall of Fame – the highest score by an Indian in the tournament and the bedrock of the second-highest successful run-chase.

Having conceded 245 for six to the Punjab Kings the famous Sunrisers ‘Travishek’ openers did their thing with Travis Head (66) and Abhishek adding 171 in 12 overs before Abhishek kicked on to his record score with 14 fours and 10 sixes to reach 247-2 and victory with a remarkable nine balls to spare.

BEST SOUTH AFRICAN: Aiden Markram’s return to form was confirmed with a cracking 47 from 28 balls to lay the platform from Pooran’s electrified assault during an opening stand of 99 in just 10 overs with Mitchell Marsh. Marco Jansen’s first innings of the tournament yielded 34* from 19 balls (2x4, 2x6) – not just ‘icing on the cake’ runs, but a match-changing contribution from a tricky 154 for six to an unassailable 219 for six against CSK.

But Tristan Stubbs was the pick of the South Africans with 38* from 23 balls in an unbroken 111-run fifth wicket partnership with KL Rahul (93* from 53) which took DC from 58-4 to 169-4 and victory over RCB. (Honourable mention to Ryan Rickelton for his 41 from 25 balls for MI against DC…)

TALKING POINT: Is there any way out of the deep hole CSK have dug for themselves? Friday’s eight-wicket loss to KKR was abject humiliation after scrambling to 103-9 and losing in 10.1 overs.

Sure, Sunil Narine took 3-13 in his four overs and then whacked 44 from 18 balls in a virtuoso individual performance but it looked like men against boys. It was embarrassing. And now 43-year-old MS Dhoni has taken over the captaincy…

LOOK OUT FOR: It’s a bit early to start talking about ‘must-win’ games but… Monday’s visit by CSK to LSG really does feel like the men in yellow will be gone from realistic playoff contention if they slump to another loss and have just a single win with half of their league matches completed.