Prabhsimran, Shreyas orchestrate highest successful chase in IPL history

In perhaps the best game of the season, Punjab Kings left Delhi Capitals slack-jawed by pulling off the highest successful chase in Men's T20 history. KL Rahul (152* off 67) and Nitish Rana's (91 off 44) brutal takedown of PBKS' bowling with a 220-run stand was rendered meaningless as Prabhsimran Singh (76 off 26) and Shreyas Iyer (61* off 30) headlined a statement victory. PBKS chased down 264/2 with 7 balls to spare.

Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 264/2 in 20 overs [KL Rahul 152* (68), Nitish Rana 91 (44)] lost to Punjab Kings 265/4 in 18.5 overs [Prabhsimran Singh 76 (26), Shreyas Iyer 61* (30)] by 6 wickets

KL Rahul tees off, Nitish Rana follows suit

Shashank Singh dropped a sitter at square leg when Rahul was on 12. Rahul went on to add 140 more runs. Arshdeep Singh broke through with Pathum Nissanka's wicket, but that brought Rana to the crease.

Rahul scored 35 off his first 15 balls. Rana started briskly as Rahul reached a 21-ball fifty and DC got to 102/1 at halfway. Rana then plundered Xavier Bartlett in the 12th over – going 6,4,4,4,4,6 to reach his half-century.

That Arshdeep over and a sixth IPL ton

At 153/1 in 13 overs, Shreyas Iyer turned to Arshdeep. Rahul shuffled across for a scoop, followed with a straight six and four, before finishing with a cut behind point. Marco Jansen returned and watched the ball fly again – the third boundary taking Rahul to his sixth IPL century, fastest off 47 deliveries.

Death overs

Rahul launched three sixes off Vijaykumar Vyshak in a 24-run over, powering past 200 in 16 overs. Marcus Stoinis took an exceptional catch at square leg but the TV umpire ruled his foot touched the boundary. Rana got a six and four in the 19th over before falling to a sharp catch from Shreyas Iyer at mid-off. This ended a 220-run partnership – the second-best for any wicket in IPL history. Arshdeep closed with a nine-run over, DC ending with 264/2 – Rahul unbeaten on 152 off 67, the best score by an Indian in IPL history.

Response

Priyansh Arya flicked the first ball for a six, collecting nine more in the opening over from Auqib Nabi. Mukesh Kumar was hit for 21 in the second.

Lungi Ngidi injury

In the third over, Ngidi had a bad fall attempting a catch, suffering a severe head injury. He was taken off in an ambulance and later confirmed stable.

More batting absurdity

Arya and Prabhsimran continued their assault. Axar Patel went for 20 in the third over, Nabi conceded four sixes in a 27-run over. PBKS had 83/0 in four overs. Prabhsimran hit six fours off Mukesh Kumar to end the Powerplay on 116/0, reaching an 18-ball half-century.

Axar, Kuldeep pull back

Axar and Kuldeep Yadav took out both openers. Axar dismissed Arya for a 17-ball 43. Prabhsimran's 76 off 26 (nine fours, nine sixes) was ended by an LBW against Kuldeep. Kuldeep also cleaned up Cooper Connolly in the 10th over. PBKS reached 147/3 in 10 overs after managing just 31/3 in the four overs post-Powerplay.

Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera took 16 off Natarajan but Vipraj Nigam had Wadhera caught at long off in the 15th over. Nigam should've dismissed Shreyas when he miscued, only for Karun Nair to drop a sitter. PBKS went into the death overs at 203/4, needing 62 off 30 balls.

Nair fumbles, Shreyas doesn't

Nair dropped Shreyas again in the 16th over at long on. The PBKS captain then smashed three sixes and a four in a 23-run over. He punished Natarajan in the 17th with a four and six, taking the equation to 23 off 18. Shreyas tonked Mukesh for a four and six, hit another six off Natarajan in the 19th, before a wide wrapped up the game. Shreyas finished with 61* off 30.

Delhi Capitals host RCB on April 27. PBKS host Rajasthan Royals.