New Delhi, August 26 (HS): Central Delhi Kings produced a dominant all-round performance to seal their place in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) playoffs, thrashing Purani Dilli 6 by 104 runs (DLS method) in a rain-hit clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday night.
Batting first, the Kings piled up an imposing 197/5 in 18 overs. After the early dismissal of wicketkeeper Kaushal Suman (5), opener Yash Dhull anchored the innings with a fluent half-century, sharing a crucial 57-run stand with Yugal Saini (28 off 20). Skipper Jonty Sidhu (28 off 16) and Aditya Bhandari (17 off 11) chipped in, before Aryan Rana provided the late fireworks with a blistering knock of 42 off just 14 balls*. For Purani Dilli 6, Rajneesh Dadar picked 3/40 in his four overs.
Chasing the stiff target, Purani Dilli 6 endured a disastrous start, reduced to 44/3 inside the powerplay, with Mani Grewal and Arun Pundir striking early. Rain intervention revised the target to 174 in 15 overs, but the batting collapse only deepened. Simarjeet Singh tightened the noose, dismissing Dev Lakra (6) and Aditya Malhotra (0) in quick succession.
The team’s slim hopes rested on Pranav Pant (24 off 17), but his dismissal triggered a complete collapse as Purani Dilli 6 folded cheaply for 69 runs, handing Central Delhi Kings a thumping 104-run victory.
With the ball, skipper Jonty Sidhu showcased his golden arm, grabbing 2 wickets for just 2 runs in 1 over, while Simarjeet Singh matched him with 2 for 2. Pundir also played a key role, returning 2/28.
This emphatic win not only secured Central Delhi Kings a playoff berth but also sent a strong warning to rivals eyeing the title.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
