64th match, PBKS vs DC: Delhi Capitals won by 17 runs

     The Delhi Capitals (DC) won their seventh match in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Monday at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, defeating the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 17 runs. DC won by 17 runs thanks to Mitchell Marsh's brilliant 63(48) and Shardul Thakur's outstanding four-wicket haul. PBKS openers Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow got off to a great start with the bat, chasing 160 for win. Before the opening blasted out to the deep off Anrich Nortje, Bairstow hit a four and a six. PBKS were 54/3 at the end of six overs after Shardul Thakur struck twice in his first over, dismissing Rajapaksa and Dhawan.

     After Axar Patel rocked the stumps of skipper Mayank Agarwal, PBKS lost the following three wickets in quick time, thanks to Kuldeep Yadav's bowling excellence. While Livingstone was stumped in the eighth over, Yadav's googly castled Harpeet Brar. After Rishi Dhawan was cleaned up by Axar Patel, PBKS were down to eight players. After Jitesh Sharma hit his first six in the 15th over, PBKS were on their way to a century. PBKS needed 39 runs off 18 deliveries, and Jitesh Sharma raced to 43.

     After Warner took a superb catch to eliminate Jitesh Sharma for 44, Shardul took two more wickets after Rabada holed out to the deep. Only three runs were allowed in the penultimate over, bowled by Nortje, with PBKS needing 26 runs off the final over. DC won by 17 runs as Thakur surrendered only 8 runs in the 20th over.

    Earlier, DC made two changes to their lineup: Khaleel Ahmed and Sarfaraz Khan were chosen in the eleven. David Warner was out on the opening delivery of the innings, caught within the circle by Livingstone's bowling. Mitchell Marsh and Sarfaraz Khan were dealing in boundaries, so the strain of an early wicket didn't bother them. Sarfaraz was dismissed for the second wicket when Rahul Chahar took a spectacular catch from Arshdeep Singh. At the completion of the powerplay, DC was 59/2. Marsh was joined by Lalit Yadav, who hit his first six of the innings in the ninth over, and DC were 86/2 at half-time.

     Earlier, DC made two changes to their lineup: Khaleel Ahmed and Sarfaraz Khan were chosen in the eleven. David Warner was out on the opening delivery of the innings, caught within the circle by Livingstone's bowling. Mitchell Marsh and Sarfaraz Khan were dealing in boundaries, so the strain of an early wicket didn't bother them. Sarfaraz was dismissed for the second wicket when Rahul Chahar took a spectacular catch from Arshdeep Singh. At the completion of the powerplay, DC was 59/2. Marsh was joined by Lalit Yadav, who hit his first six of the innings in the ninth over, and DC were 86/2 at half-time.

     Arshdeep Singh got his second wicket by deceiving Yadav with a slower delivery. After that, Livingstone took two wickets, dismissing explosive batsmen Rishabh Pant and Rovman Powell. Marsh got his half-century with five overs remaining as the right-handed batter kept the runs flowing from one end to the other. Marsh's innings came to an end when he was caught at deep mid-wicket by Rabada in the penultimate over. As DC reached 159/7 in the first innings, Arshdeep gave only 7 runs in the penultimate over, including a Shardul Thakur breakthrough.

Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 159/7 (Mitchell Marsh 63, Sarfaraz Khan 32; Liam Livingstone 3-27) beat Punjab Kings 142/9 (Jitesh Sharma 44, Jonny Bairstow 28; Shardul Thakur 4-36) by 17 runs.