IPL 2022: PBKS vs DC Review – Delhi strengthen their playoffs bid

Punjab Kings succumbed to their seventh loss of the season as they lost to Delhi Capitals in Match 64 of IPL 2022. Chasing a score of 160, Punjab lost three wickets inside the powerplay which pushed them onto the back foot straightaway.

DC spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel picked up two wickets each alongside Shardul Thakur’s four-wicket haul to restrict the Punjab side 14 runs short. Jitesh Sharma (44) and Rahul Chahar (25*) got going towards the end and brought down the margin of defeat for the Punjab Kings.

Earlier, the Delhi Capitals were put into bat first by Mayank Agarwal and the team lost the early wicket of in-form opener David Warner. Sarfaraz Khan (32) and Mitchell Marsh stitched a 51-run partnership for the second wicket while Lalit Yadav (24) kept the scoring rate intact. However, a cluster of wickets saw the Delhi side losing momentum as they ended up with 159 for 7 in 20 overs.

Top Performers of the game

Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh continued his good form from the previous game and played another stupendous knock (48-ball 63). The Australian all-rounder hit three sixes and four fours in his magnificent knock and batted at a strike rate of 131.25 to help his side post a match-winning total.

Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur bowled a sensational spell for the Delhi Capitals and managed to pick up crucial wickets which changed the tempo of the game. The right-arm seamer finished with 4 for 36 in his four overs and picked the big wicket of Jitesh Sharma, who threatened to take the game away from the Delhi side.

What next for the two teams

Delhi Capitals will take on the Mumbai Indians in their next encounter at the Wankhede Stadium while the Punjab Kings will face the Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 22 at the same venue.