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IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals finish with Sameer Rizvi's winning touch

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JAIPUR: Delhi Capitals ended their IPL campaign on a winning note, defeating Punjab Kings by six wickets at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Saturday. With this loss, Punjab Kings’ mission to finish in the top-two was dealt a major blow. Sameer Rizvi turned out to be the hero for the DC with an unbeaten 58 (25b; 3x4, 5x6) as they chased down the challenging target of 207 with three balls to spare.

Meerut youngster Rizvi’s maiden IPL half-century came at the perfect time for his team, who missed the playoff berth by a whisker. Tristan Stubbs rounded up a fruitful match by scoring an undefeated 18.

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DC had a sedate start, scoring just 22 after three overs. In trying to change gears, they also lost wickets. Openers KL Rahul (35; 21b, 6x4, 1x6) and stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis (23; 15b, 2x4, 1x6) and Sediqallah Atal all had starts but couldn’t carry on.

Karun Nair then came and took charge of the chase along with Sameer Rizvi. Nair treated Pravin Dubey with disdain by striking the leggie for four boundaries in the 11th over, all in the region between long-leg and mid-wicket.

Just when they appeared to be racing towards the target, Harpreeet Brar provided a much-needed breakthrough.
The hero of the last match against Rajasthan Royals sent back Nair, who made 44 off 27 balls. The middle-order batter celebrated his recall into the Indian Test side with a splendid knock.

Earlier, snubbed by the national selectors for the forthcoming England Test tour, Shreyas Iyer seemed to have taken out all his frustration on Delhi Capitals bowlers by slamming a brilliant half-century. Thanks to Iyer’s53 and a late cameo by Marcus Stoinis, Punjab Kings scored 206/8 in their penultimate IPL league outing.

Captain Iyer led from the front to help his team post yet another 200-run plus score this season. He belted five boundaries and a couple of sixes during his 34-ball knock.

The innings was given a perfect finish by Stoinis, who whacked a 16-ball 44 studded with four towering sixes and three fours as PBKS added 66 runs in the last five overs. They were also helped by somebutter-fingered DC fielders.

Although PBKS lost wickets at regular intervals, they managed to maintain a healthy run-rate throughout their innings. Iyer survived two close calls in Mohit Sharma’s third over. He was given out caught behind but the third umpire overturned the on-field umpire’s decision. Next ball, he connected the shot but was dropped by Kuleep Yadav at long leg.



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