In a thrilling encounter at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, the DC dealt a heavy blow to the PBKS' chances of qualifying for the Playoffs, emerging victorious by 15 runs in Match 64 of the TATA IPL 2023.
DC put on a dominant batting display, led by an explosive knock from Rilee Rossouw (82* off 37 balls), as they posted a daunting total of 213/2. The opening duo of David Warner (46 off 31) and Prithvi Shaw (54 off 38) laid a solid foundation with a 94-run partnership. Rossouw's blazing innings propelled the Capitals to their formidable score.
In response, the PBKS had a shaky start, losing captain Shikhar Dhawan early in the innings. The Capitals' bowlers, particularly Khaleel Ahmed and Ishan Sharma, made early breakthroughs to put pressure on the Kings. However, Prabhsimran Singh (22 off 19) played aggressively, hitting boundaries to keep the Kings in the chase. Atharva Taide (50 off 38) also played a crucial role, hitting boundaries and sixes to maintain the required run rate.
Despite several lucky escapes, including missed run-out opportunities, the Kings faced mounting pressure as the required run rate soared. Liam Livingstone (94 off 48) provided a glimmer of hope with his explosive hitting, but lost partners in quick succession. Shahrukh Khan (6) and Jitesh Sharma (0) departed quickly, bringing the Kings under immense pressure.
Livingstone, however, showcased his batting prowess and brought the equation down with powerful hitting. He smashed boundaries and sixes to keep the Kings in the hunt. However, Anrich Nortje's superb bowling in the penultimate over resulted in the dismissals of Tom Curran (0) and Harpreet Brar (run out). With 33 runs needed off the final over, PBKS hopes rested on Livingstone's shoulders.
The tension reached its peak as Livingstone smashed a six and a four off the first two balls of the last over. However, Ishant Sharma's waist-high no ball was followed by a dot ball and mistimed shots from Livingstone. Finally, on the last ball, Livingstone's attempt to clear the boundary fell into the hands of the fielder at long-off, sealing a 15-run victory for the DC.
Earlier, PBKS won the toss and elected to bowl. DC made a commanding start with Warner and Shaw setting the tone with their aggressive batting. Rilee Rossouw's explosive knock, supported by Phil Salt (26* off 14), propelled the Capitals to their challenging total.
With this victory, the DC strengthened their position in the Playoffs race, while the PBKS faced a setback in their quest for qualification. The TATA IPL 2023 continues to deliver thrilling contests and captivating performances, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Man of the Match: Rilee Rossouw (Delhi Capitals)
Substitutes:
PBKS: Prabhsimran Singh, Sikandar Raza, Matthew Short, Rishi Dhawan, Mohit Rathee.
DC: Mukesh Kumar, Abishek Porel, Ripal Pate, Pravin Dubey, Sarfaraz Khan.