David Miller and captain Axar Patel produced explosive half-centuries as Delhi Capitals chased down 211 to beat Punjab Kings by three wickets in Dharamsala on Monday and keep their IPL playoff hopes alive.
Miller smashed 51 off 28 balls while Axar hammered 56 off 30 as DC completed the highest successful chase at the HPCA Stadium, reaching the target in 19 overs.
Earlier, Priyansh Arya starred for Punjab Kings with a blistering 56 off 33 balls, including six sixes, while skipper Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 59 to guide the hosts to 210/5
Punjab looked in control after reducing DC to 74/4, with Arshdeep Singh returning impressive figures of 2/21. However, Miller and Axar turned the game around with a counter-attacking 64-run stand before Ashutosh Sharma and Madhav Tiwari finished the job.
Brief Scores:
Punjab Kings: 210/5 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 59 not out, Priyansh Arya 56; Madhav Tiawai 2/40).
Delhi Capitals: 219/7 in 19 overs (Axar Patel 56, David Miller 51; Arshdeep Singh 2/21)
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The outcome of the game leaves Punjab Kings stuck at fourth spot on the IPL points table with 13 points from 11 games. Delhi Capitals meanwhile moved a spot and claimed at seventh place with 10 points from 12 matches.
Here is how the two teams can qualify for the playoffs
What Punjab Kings need to do to qualify for the playoffs?
Punjab Kings form has dipped drastically in the second half of the season. The Shreyas Iyer led side were unbeaten in their first seven games, winning six while one match ended in no result. However they have now lost four straight games.
The team has three games remaining in the league stage and they will play Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants in that order. To qualify for the playoffs Punjab need a minimum of 16 points, which means the 2025 runner up will have to win at least two of its three matches. Four straight defeats has also affected their net run rate which now stands at 0.428. So the team has to ensure that they notch big wins in order to improve the net run rate or else the chasing pack might overtake them and end their playoff hopes.
How Delhi Capitals can qualify for the playoffs?
The win over Punjab has kept Delhi alive in the playoff race however the team's chances are extremely small. DC's inconsistent form right through the season is now hurting them. Axar Patel's side have notched just five wins from 12 matches and not managed to win more than two wins a row.
DC's final two games is against Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders. To have a chance to qualify for the playoffs DC firstly have to ensure that they win these two games and that too by handsome margin so that their net run rate of -0.993 improves. A win in these two games will take their points tally to 14. However just winning these two matches will not help Delhi's cause. The team will have to rely on the outcomes of other games and hope that Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings or Rajasthan Royals don't get to 14 points. If this happens then Delhi could qualify for the playoffs.
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