MUMBAI, India, CMC – Rovman Powell’s failure was of little significance as Delhi Capitals romped to a crucial 17-run victory over Punjab Kings to move into the all-important fourth spot in the Indian Premier League here yesterday.
Sent in at the DY Patil Sports Academy, Capitals mustered what appeared to be an inadequate 159 for seven off their 20 overs, with Powell managing only two.
Australian Mitchell Marsh belted 63 from 48 balls to rally the innings from a position of 112 for five in the 14th over.
In reply, Kings were restricted to 142 for nine off their 20 overs with wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma top-scoring with 44 from 34 balls.
The victory catapulted Delhi into fourth on 14 points with one game remaining against Mumbai Indians on Saturday.
They are two adrift of Jason Holder’s Lucknow Super Giants who lie third, with Alzarri Joseph’s Gujarat Titans top of the pile on 20 points.
Royal Challengers Bangalore also have 14 points but are fifth based on net run rate, with all 10 teams having one game remaining in the preliminaries.
David Warner fell to the first ball of the contest, bowled by spinner Liam Livingstone (3-27) but Marsh stitched up the innings, first in a 51-run, second wicket stand with Sarfaraz Khan (32) and then in a 47-run, third wicket partnership with Lalit Yadav (24).
Capitals lost three wickets for 14 runs in 16 balls with Powell a part of the slide, holing out to long off off Livingstone in the 14th over.
Marsh remained solid, however, punching four fours and three sixes overall, as he put on a further 37 for the sixth wicket with Axar Patel (17), to add precious runs at the back end.
Kings made a promising start to their run chase, Englishman Jonny Bairstown lashing a 15-ball 28 in a 38-run opening stand with Shikhar Dhawan (19).
Fast bowler Shardul Thakur (4-36) then engineered a stunning collapse, Kings losing seven wickets for 44 runs to slump to 82 for seven in the 13th over.
Jitesh, who hit three fours and two sixes, produced a last ditch effort in a 41-run, eighth wicket partnership with Rahul Chahar (25 not out) but it proved in vain.
