Rizvi, Karun seal DC's IPL campaign with a winning note

Sameer Rizvi scored his maiden IPL half-century in DC's last game © Sportzpics
Delhi Capitals put a dent on Punjab Kings' hopes for a top-two finish as they signed off with a six-wicket win at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Shreyas Iyer's half-century (53 off 34) and Marcus Stoinis blistering 16-ball 44* powered PBKS to 206 for 8 after they were asked to bat. DC then came up with a collective batting effort, led by Sameer Rizvi's maiden IPL fifty (58* off 25) and Karun Nair's 27-ball 44, to get over the line with three deliveries to spare. PBKS retained the second spot despite the loss but will need a win in their final match against Mumbai Indians to be assured of a top-two finish.

Where the game was won

The middle overs. Although the difference was only 12 runs between the two teams in this phase, DC managed to stay ahead of PBKS and were able to take the momentum into the death overs and finish the game comfortably. They matched PBKS on fours count in the middle overs phase while hitting two more sixes.

The middle overs difference

Parameters PBKS DC
Score 82/2 94/3
Run Rate 9.11 10.44
4s/6s 6/3 6/5
PUNJAB KINGS

Powerplay: PBKS lose two but remain positive

Phase score - 60/2 [RR: 10.00, 4s/6s: 7/2]

Priyansh Arya's stay was a short one as he was hurried into the shot attempting a pull off Mustafizur Rahman and was dismissed for four in the second over. Josh Inglis got PBKS going with a couple of boundaries off Mukesh Kumar while Prabhsimran Singh struggled initially before executing an elegant straight drive for his first boundary. Inglis struck the first six, whipping a Mustafizur delivery over deep backward square, and also got a reprieve as the bowler put down a tough return chance. Prabhsimran's two fours off Mohit Sharma was followed by a six and a four for Inglis off Vipraj Nigam. But the legspinner hit back with the wicket of the Australian, thanks to smart glovework from Tristan Stubbs. Shreyas Iyer got a boundary in the same over to help PBKS end the PowerPlay on a good note.

Middle overs: Shreyas keeps PBKS going

Phase score - 82/2 [RR: 9.11, 4s/6s: 6/3]

Kuldeep Yadav started his spell with a no-ball and the free-hit was put away for a six by Prabhsimran, who also struck a boundary over cover off Vipraj. But his outing ended when he attempted a cheeky scoop off the leggie only to be bowled for 28. But Kuldeep was leaking runs at the other end, being hit for a six by Shreyas and a four by Nehal Wadhera. Shreyas went over cover off Mohit for a boundary in the 11th over that took PBKS past 100 before getting his second six by dispatching a Kuldeep delivery over long on. The 41-run stand ended when Mukesh returned into the attack and had Wadhera mistime a loft. Shreyas, though, continued unperturbed, collecting regular boundaries and rotating the strike well, and also used the DRS to reverse a caught-behind decision. He also had a lucky break in the same over as Kuldeep couldn't hold on to a tough chance. Karun Nair almost took a great catch but had to let the ball go being close to the boundary, giving Shashank Singh a reprieve.

Death overs: Stoinis blitz powers PBKS past 200

Phase score - 64/4 [RR: 12.80, 4s/6s: 4/5]

Mustafizur bagged the wicket of Shashank in the 16th over and conceded only four runs to keep PBKS in check. But Marcus Stoinis helped his side regain momentum quickly with two sixes and a four off Mukesh while Shreyas ended the over with a four to bring up a 33-ball fifty, with 25 coming off the over. Mohit grassed an opportunity to deny Kuldeep the wicket of Stoinis but he held on to the ball to see the back of Shreyas. Kuldeep also picked up the wicket of Azmatullah Omarzai and conceded only three runs. But the drop by Mohit proved expensive as he was struck for two sixes and two fours by Stoinis in a 22-run 19th over. Mustafizur started the final over well as he got the wicket of Marco Jansen and gave away only one run off the first three balls. But Harpreet struck a six and two more runs came off the last two balls as PBKS finished in excess of 200.

DELHI CAPITALS

Powerplay: Rahul powers DC's breezy start

Phase score - 61/1 [RR: 10.16, 4s/6s: 8/3]

KL Rahul, DC's impact sub, and skipper Faf du Plessis got the side off to a good start, getting five fours between them in the first four overs. The first six of the innings came off Du Plessis's bat when he pulled Omarzai over square leg. Rahul struck two more fours in the same over before he hit a six off Harpreet Brar that took DC to 50 in five overs. Rahul hit a four off Jansen but fell soon after, with the change of pace from the bowler doing the trick. Nair ended the PowerPlay with a six in the same over as DC got one more than what PBKS did.

Middle overs: Nair, Rizvi keep DC on track

Phase score - 94/3 [RR: 10.44, 4s/6s: 6/5]

Du Plessis's innings was halted by Harpreet when he failed to keep a cut down. Sediqullah Atal then struck a big six off Jansen while Praveen Dubey, PBKS' impact sub, started with a four-run over. Atal got a couple of lucky breaks in Stoinis' over as Harpreet and Inglis weren't able to hold on to the ball, and struck a six soon after. His luck finally ran out as Dubey got him to miscue a loft, with Arshdeep making no mistake at long on. In the same over, Nair swept thrice and pulled for four successive boundaries, taking DC past 100. A quiet over from Jansen, with only four coming off it, put some pressure on DC. The release came soon - Sameer Rizvi got a lucky boundary and scooped one for a six off Omarzai, and then both Nair and Rizvi struck maximums off Jansen, with 32 coming off the two overs combined. Nair also hit a four off Harpreet but was bowled soon after, leaving DC needing 52 off 30.

Death overs: Rizvi special helps DC sign off with a win

Phase score - 49/0 [RR: 10.88, 4s/6s: 4/3]

Arshdeep delivered a fine 16th over, conceding only four as the equation came to 48 off 24. A six from Rizvi and a four for Stubbs, off Harpreet, eased the pressure as 14 came off the 17th over. Rizvi got to his highest IPL score having struck two fours off Omarzai, bringing it down to 22 off the last two overs. Rizvi struck a crucial six off Arshdeep en route to a 22-ball fifty, A reverse lap by Stubbs got him a four and left DC needing only eight in the final over. Rizvi, aptly, finished it off with a six over fine leg off Stoinis as DC ended their campaign with a fine win.

Brief scores: Punjab Kings 206/8 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 53, Marcus Stoinis 44*; Mustafizur Rahman 3-33) lost to Delhi Capitals 208/4 in 19.3 overs (Sameer Rizvi 58*, Karun Nair 44; Harpreet Brar 2-41) by 6 wickets.

What next?

DC have played their final game in IPL 2025. PBKS, meanwhile, will take on MI on May 26 at the same venue, with the battle for the top-two spots ongoing.