Delhi Capitals claim their second home victory

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Shikhar Dhawan and captain Shreyas Iyer's second-wicket partnership of 92 was the rock that the Delhi Capitals based their five-wicket victory over the Kings XI Punjab, played at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi, on Saturday evening.

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The home side looking for their second win of the tournament - their first coming by virtue of a super over - never seemed to be troubled chasing down the 164 needed for victory, and finished with 166 for five.

Earlier, West Indian Chris Gayle's 69 was the basis of the the Kings XI Punjab total, despite Sandeep Lamichhane's 3-40.

Delhi's chase started out on a positive note.

But the Kings struck in the the fourth over, Dhawan chipped South African fast bowler Hardus Viljoen - now plying his trade in England - into the covers and Mandeep Singh threw down the wicket of non-striker Prithvy Shaw's wicket with an accurate throw.

Dhawan and Iyer re-consolidated the innings with their second-wicket partnership.

That's a 50-run partnership between @SDhawan25 & Shreyas Iyer.#DC 78/1 after 8.3 overs pic.twitter.com/ErgQT8kNDg

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 20, 2019

Dhawan also went to his 35th IPL half-century off 36 balls. However, Viljoen initiated the breakthrough with an off-cutter which Dhawan (56 off 41 with seven fours and one six) toe-edged to Ravi Ashwin who took a tumbling catch at deep mid-wicket.

Viljoen - lost to the Proteas - claimed his second scalp when Rishabh Pant looked to pull the bowler from outside the off-stump and was caught by Sam Curran, who never had to move right or left at deep square-leg.

Iyer's 12th IPL 50 came off 45 balls but soon after, his partner in crime, Colin Ingram, who wanted to get the job done, had his furniture rearranged, yorked by Mohammad Shami.

The collywobbles set in as Axar Patel was run out, the home side needing eight from eight.

However, with three balls remaining, a calm Iyer swatted across Curran's line and found the gap at mid-wicket for the wining boundary.

Iyer was not out on 58 off 39 deliveries (5x4, 1x6).

Delhi now have 12 points and lie third on the table, level with the Mumbai Indians and two points behind the Chennai Super Kings.

SHIKHAR'S DANCE MOVES ON THE CREASE

INGRAM'S ATHLETICISM ENDS GAYLE'S PYROTECHNICS

Earlier, the home side - opting to field - struck in the second over with KL Rahul (12) stumped by the keeper Pant off the young leg-break bowler, Lamichhane.

The dismissal of Rahul gave Gayle the fillip to open his shoulders, hitting Ishant Sharma for a rocket-fuelled six that travelled 101 metres, earning even more air miles.

Protea Kagiso Rabada picked up his first wicket, Mayank Agarwal caught by 20-year old West Indian, Sherfane Rutherford.

Mayank sashayed down the track and the batsman's ineffectual waft went airborne towards cover-point where Rutherford lurked.

David Miller perished in the eighth over, and one over later Gayle struck his 28th IPL half-century.

Gayle's pyrotechnics were brought to a standstill - after smoking Lamichhane for six, the fuse went out and the bowler was avenged.

The West Indian going for a repeat, failed to take into account the athleticism of Ingram. The South African, patrolling the boundary, caught the ball over his head, while stumbling over the ropes managed to lob the ball back to Axar who gratefully excepted the catch.

Gayle's 69 included six fours and five powerful maximums off 37 balls.

Mandeep Singh (27-ball 30) managed to get the scoreboard ticking over, but auditioning for Strictly Come Dancing, waltzed his way to a stumping off Axar.

Rabada (2-23) claimed his second scalp in the last over when Ashwin tried to give himself room on the leg-side, only to find the top edge and was caught millimetres off the ground by Iyer, diving forward on the long-on boundary.

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DEHLI CAPITALS: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (capt), Rishabh Pant (wk), Axar Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Colin Ingram, Sherfane Rutherford, Sandeep Lamichhane.

KINGS XI PUNJAB: Lokesh Rahul (wk), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin (capt), Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Hardus Viljoen, Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar