21 April,2022 08:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure
Axar Patel. Pic/PTI
Only a couple of days ago, the Brabourne Stadium witnessed a run fest with over 400 runs scored during the Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians encounter. However, Delhi Capitals (DC) ensured it wouldn't be the same on Wednesday as their bowlers did wonders to skittle out Punjab Kings (PBKS) for just 115 in 20 overs.
Delhi then chased down the target comprehensively to win the match by nine wickets and 57 balls to spare.
DC openers Prithvi Shaw (41) and David Warner (60 not out) put on 83 runs to lay the foundation for the chase.
Delhi began well by winning the toss and electing to bowl. And then, their bowlers showed how good the decision was. Punjab openers Mayank Agarwal (24) and Shikhar Dhawan (9) were back in the pavilion with the scoreboard reading 44-2 within the first five overs.
Off-spinner Lalit Yadav (2-11) dismissed Dhawan through wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in his very first over, while left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman (1-28) clean bowled Agarwal, who had thrice dispatched pacer Shardul Thakur (0-20) to the fence. It's been a tough last few days for the Delhi outfit as two of their players - all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and wicketkeeper Tim Seifert - tested positive for COVID along with four support staff members. This also affected their preparation for the game against PBKS. A 15-member Pant & Co arrived at the Cricket Club of India at 6.25 pm on Wednesday evening. By then, Agarwal's boys had already warmed-up and were engaged in pre-game drills.
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As the BCCI shifted this encounter from Pune to Mumbai just a day before the match as a precautionary measure, there were hardly any spectators at the venue. But, it didn't make any difference to the DC bowlers. They restricted Punjab to 47-3 in Powerplay and allowed them to progress to just 77-4 after 10 overs.
Punjab's top-scorer was Vidarbha batsman Jitesh Sharma (23-ball 32), who showed intent by hitting five fours before left-arm spinner Axar Patel (4-0-10-2) trapped him LBW. Interestingly, the first six of the game came in the 17th over when No. 9 Rahul Chahar (12) hit Mustafizur over mid-wicket. Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav claimed two wickets apiece.
