PBKS vs DC: Liam Livingstone heroics in vain as Delhi Capitals hurt Punjab Kings’ IPL 2023 playoffs chances

Delhi Capitals defeated Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Wednesday to dent their prospects of a berth in the playoffs of the 2023 Indian Premier League.

DC are already out of the race for the last four and PBKS who now can only get to 14 points if they win their last league match against Rajasthan Royals on Friday, will have to wait for other results to go their way.

Liam Livingstone (94 off 47) played one of the greatest IPL innings as PBKS were faced with their highest-ever run chase in the history of the tournament. However, it wasn’t enough because there was hardly any support from any of the others in the PBKS batting line-up; Atharva Taide scored a half-century but he did not score fast enough as the required rate kept climbing dramatically against a top-quality DC bowling attack.

PBKS vs DC, IPL 2023: Highlights
Punjab Kings (-0.308) have the worst net-run rate among teams still in the reckoning for the playoffs outside the top-four. While the Royals also have 12 points from 13 matches, they have a far better NRR and that would squarely put the pressure on Punjab when they host last year’s runners-up in Dharamsala on May 19.

Prabhsimran Singh who had scored a hundred against Delhi Capitals on Saturday, played out a maiden against Khaleel Ahmed in the first over before Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed for a golden duck by Ishant Sharma as Punjab Kings got off to a start far from ideal to a chase of 214.

After a cautious approach in the first three overs, Prabhsimran decided enough was enough and it was time to use the Powerplay overs; he hit Ishant Sharma for three successive boundaries with the required rate already soaring to 12-runs-an-over. Atharva Taide then hit Anrich Nortje for a four and six off the first two balls and Punjab Kings were finally getting somewhere with their chase.

Atharva Taide also attacked Mukesh Kumar in his first over to give PBKS some kind of momentum. But apart from those boundaries, Taide did not tee off in a subdued partnership and Prabhsimran was forced to play a risky shot against Axar Patel and was caught by Yash Dhull at long-on. Liam Livingstone joined Taide at the crease and started building a partnership that gave PBKS a glimmer of hope. Livingstone hit just one six in the first 11 balls before starting to open his arms.

At the other end, Atharva Taide scored his second fifty of the season but he did not threaten the DC bowling attack at any stage. Finally, after scoring 55 off 42 balls in a huge chase, Taide was retired out. Anrich Nortje struck a further blow for PBKS when he dismissed the hard-hitting Jitesh Sharma in the 16th over. The task was cut out for Liam Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan with Punjab Kings needing 79 runs off the last four overs.

Khaleel Ahmed’s first spell of two overs had cost just two runs. He came back into the attack in the 17th over and conceded 20 runs but got the wicket of Shahrukh Khan as the pressure continued to mount for PBKS who had more to lose if the result did not go their way.

Liam Livingstone waged a lone battle for Punjab Kings and kept them in the hunt for a record run chase. After two sixes off Khaleel Ahmed, he hit Mukesh Kumar for two sixes while his T20 World Cup winning teammate Sam Curran hit 11 off 5 to play a good supporting role before falling to Anrich Nortje. Harpreet Brar missed the first ball he faced but ran to get Livingstone on strike and was run out at the non-striker’s end. A sensational penultimate over from Nortje left PBKS with 33 runs off the last 6 balls.

The seasoned Ishant Sharma was tasked with the last over and he was up against a determined Livingstone who responded with a 6, 4 and a 6 off a no-ball which sparked some words from David Warner and Ishant Sharma who seemed upset with the umpire. Warner reviewed the decision and the TV umpire upheld the call as replays showed the ball had passed over Livingstone’s waist. PBKS needed 16 off the last three balls but Ishant bounced back with two dot balls and then dismissed Livingstone for 94 as DC secured a 15-run victory.

Delhi Capitals finally found the perfect batting order in the last week of their IPL campaign and raced away to 213 for 2 off their 20 overs. Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and decided to bowl, David Warner and Prithvi Shaw lit up the night sky in Dharamsala with some scintillating strokeplay. Shaw returned to the DC playing XI after nearly a month and after a watchful start, he joined the party with his skipper and opening partner.

Delhi Capitals were the first team to be knocked out of the race for the playoffs in the 2023 IPL but they were in the mood to spoil the party for Punjab Kings who had to win their remaining two matches to give themselves a chance to finish in the top-four. David Warner who hit a half-century against PBKS in their previous match four days back, was in destructive mood against the same opposition. He was criticised for his strike-rate earlier in the season but the DC captain found his mojo albeit a little too late. Warner and Shaw were in great touch as the openers added 94 for the first wicket. Sam Curran ended a dangerous partnership when he outfoxed Warner with a slower ball and he was brilliantly caught by Shikhar Dhawan, not long after Rahul Chahar had dropped an easy chance.

Meanwhile, Prithvi Shaw who last played in the 2023 IPL against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 20, made a sensational return to the side. Before Wednesday, Shaw had scores of 12 (vs LSG), 7 (GT), 0 (RR), 15 (MI), 0 (RCB) and 13 (KKR). But against PBKS in Dharamsala, Shaw unleashed some breathtaking shots and despite taking a couple of blows on his fingers, he scores his first fifty of the season. Like Warner, Shaw too was deceived by a Curran slower ball and fell for 54 off 38.

However, there was no let-up from the Capitals. Rilee Rossouw came in at No.3 and smashed his first IPL fifty and finished with 82 not out off 37 balls; his innings was studded with 6 fours and 6 sixes. Phil Salt batted at No.4 and hit an unbeaten 26 not out off 14 balls as the duo added 65 runs for the third wicket in the last five overs.

Rilee Rossouw was brutal against the PBKS bowlers and was particularly ruthless against fellow South African Kagiso Rabada, hitting him for two sixes and a four in his third over. Rabada did not bowl another over after that. Rossouw realised it was a good batting pitch and started off with two lovely boundaries against Sam Curran and never looked back after that.

Rilee Rossouw showed his all-round range when Shikhar Dhawan, in a bizarre move, asked left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar to bowl the final over. Rossouw was only too happy to accept the opportunity and he hit Brar for two sixes and a boundary before Phil Salt finished the innings off with another boundary.