Delhi Capitals defy Covid outbreak to hammer Punjab Kings

The two teams now sit level on points outside the playoff places, but with Capitals ahead courtesy of a far superior net run rate. Kings have lost their last two matches

Mumbai: Punjab Kings 115, Delhi Capitals 119-1 - Delhi Capitals win by nine wickets

Scorecard

Delhi Capitals defied the complications caused by a Covid outbreak in the camp to hammer Punjab Kings by nine wickets.

Mitchell Marsh and Tim Seifert were both ruled out after testing positive, while the match was shifted from Pune to Mumbai, but after losing the toss Punjab were bowled out cheaply having left out Odean Smith in favour of Australian seamer Nathan Ellis.

Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone all fell cheaply, with Mayank Agarwal's 15-ball 24 the only real resistance from the top four.

Wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma rebuilt with 32, but a team with Kagiso Rabada carded at No.7 was always likely to struggle once Bairstow's dismissal left Punjab 54 for 4 in the seventh over.

There was to be no real recovery; spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel claimed two wickets apiece, with Patel accounting for Livingstone who ran down the pitch and was stumped.

The tail survived to take the innings to the end of its 20 overs, but Arshdeep Singh was run out searching for a bye off the final ball as Punjab – who have lost more tosses than anyone else in this year's competition – were bowled out.

In reply, sensing an opportunity to improve their net run rate, Delhi were rampant. Prithvi Shaw hit seven fours and a six in 20 balls, while David Warner smashed 60 off 30 balls, with 46 of those coming in boundaries.

The two teams now sit level on points outside the playoff places, but with Capitals ahead courtesy of a far superior net run rate. Kings have lost their last two matches.