Sameer Rizvi helps Delhi Capitals sign off in style as they beat the Punjab Capitals to put a dent in their top-2 hopes.
Before Saturday night, the Delhi Capitals (DC) had only managed to chase down 200 or more in 22 attempts. In addition to seeing 21-year-old Sameer Rizvi reach his first IPL fifty in a decisive match, they also dashed PBKS’s dreams of finishing in the top two this season by chasing down 207 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Jaipur.
The loss still puts PBKS in second place on the standings, but if the results of the next games don’t work out, they have a good possibility of finishing third and having to go to the elimination round.
To win, DC needed to score 91 runs from the final 46 balls, or almost 12 runs per over. Rizvi pursued every bowling technique that PBKS threw at him from that point on, especially during crucial situations.
At that point, right-arm seamer Azmatullah Omarzai hit him for a top-edged four off a tennis-batted swat after he had hit three off four balls. He saw that the fine leg fielder was brought in and moved low to scoop a short ball on the next ball. Rizvi continued to play his shots without fear, and the tone was established.
Rizvi ended the 14th over by pulling Marco Jansen for six, despite his left-arm pace. DC survived the chase thanks to the shot. But Rizvi hit left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar for a huge six over midwicket as the needed rate was once again approaching two runs per ball. When Omarzai attempted an inswinging yorker in the 18th over, Rizvi was fortunate enough to get an inside-edged four, but he deserved it.
With the ball almost off of the ground, Rizvi completed the chase with a sweep off Marcus Stoinis after even heaving Arshdeep Singh for six. His highest IPL score was an undefeated 58* from 25 balls.