Mumbai: Only four batters reached double figures -- all under 35 runs -- with wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma top scoring (32 runs from 23 balls) for Punjab Kings that reached 115 against an attacking Delhi bowlers here at Brabourne Stadium on Wednesday. For Delhi Capitals, Lalit Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Khaleel Ahmed took two wickets each to wrap up the Punjab innings below 120 runs.
A COVID-hit Delhi Capitals quickly put a chaotic build up to the game behind to bowl out Punjab Kings for a below-par 115 in the Indian Premier League here on Wednesday. The match, which was shifted to the Brabourne Stadium from Pune, was given a go ahead barely an hour before the start of play after Delhi Capitals' COVID-count rose to six with keeper-batter Tim Seifert joining the list on Wednesday morning.
Delhi spin trio of Lalit Yadav (2/11), Kuldeep Yadav (2/24) and Axar Patel (2/10) did the bulk of the damage. Punjab were tottering at 35/2 after losing openers Mayank Agarwal (24) and Shikhar Dhawan (9) early. Mayank, who recovered from his toe injury that forced him to miss the previous game, started with a cut for a boundary. He then launched into Shardul Thakur, striking three fours in the third over that fetched 14 runs.
But off-spinner Lalit removed Dhawan (9) cheaply, after the left-handed batter's attempted paddle resulted in a nick to Rishabh Pant. Punjab were soon reeling at 46/3, as Axar struck in his first over removing the in-form Liam Livingstone (2), who was stumped by Pant. Livingstone came down the wicket to have a go at Axar, but the left-arm spinner turned the ball away from him to get Pant into action.