Rilee Rossouw headlined a spirited batting performance from bottom-of-the-log Delhi Capitals as they clinched a consolation victory by 15 runs against the Punjab Kings in their Indian Premier League match at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Wednesday.
Rossouw’s brilliant 82* from just 37 balls led the Capitals to an impressive total of 213-2 after being asked to bat first and the Kings succumbed to 198-8 in reply to end their chances of a top-four finish and place in the playoffs.
It was the 32nd occasion that 200 had been surpassed in the tournament so far but the first time the Capitals had passed their team double century.
Englishman Liam Livingstone smashed 94 from just 48 balls (5x4, 9x6) in a defiant attempt to reach the imposing target but there was little support. Atharva Taide reached 55 from 42 balls before being ‘retired out’ by the team in pursuit of a more dynamic strike-rate but none was to be found.
Rossouw was in scintillating form with an unbeaten 82 from just 37 deliveries building on an opening stand of 94 between captain David Warner (46) and Prithvi Shaw (54).
Warner struck five fours and two sixes from 31 balls before miscuing a slower ball from Sam Curran to mid off and Shaw fell to the same bowler, toe-ending a pull-shot to deep square leg having faced 38 balls and struck seven fours and a solitary six on one of India’s smallest but comfortably most beautiful venues.
Rossouw was at his glorious best smashing half a dozen fours and sixes to every part of the ground having arrived at the crease with just 9.4 overs remaining.
The visitors from Delhi were the first to be eliminated from playoff contention and condemned their hosts to a similar fate with this impressive victory.
PUNJAB KINGS: Shikhar Dhawan (captain), Atharva Taide, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wkt), Sam Curran, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh
DELHI CAPITALS: David Warner (captain), Prithvi Shaw, Philip Salt (wkt), Rilee Rossouw, Axar Patel, Aman Hakim Khan, Yash Dhull, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed
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