Delhi Premier League T20 | North Delhi Strikers by six wickets | Himmat Singh and Mayank Rawat century stand extends East Delhi Riders to win

Adani Delhi Premier League T20: East Delhi Riders defeat North Delhi Strikers by six wickets thanks to a century partnership between Himmat Singh and Mayank Rawat.

New Delhi, August 25, 2024: In Sunday's 14th Adani Delhi Premier League T20 encounter at Arun Jaitley Stadium, East Delhi Riders defeated North Delhi Strikers by six wickets thanks to captain Himmat Singh and Mayank Rawat's undefeated 122-run partnership off 66 balls. 

After a strong start, Simarjeet Singh's outstanding 3/30 with the ball held North Delhi Strikers to 179/7 in 20 overs. Himmat Singh and Mayank Rawat's magnificent century partnership not only preserved the victory but also prolonged the East Delhi Riders' winning run in the competition, maintaining them atop the standings after five victories out of five games.

After a haphazard start to the run chase, East Delhi Riders were four down and needing just 59 runs at the conclusion of the eighth over. In the second over, it was Sujal Singh (3 off 6), and in the fifth over, it was Anuj Rawat (1 off 6), his opening partner. In the seventh and eighth overs, respectively, Samarth Seth (9 off 8) and Hardik Sharma (3 off 6) were also removed without much delay. 

Then, captain Himmat Singh (85* off 50) and Mayank Rawat (66* off 37) assumed responsibility and repeated their previous match's tenacity. Together, they counterattacked to stabilize the innings, and by the end of the 12th over, East Delhi Riders had scored over 100 runs. The side needed 77 runs off 58 balls to win, and Singh reached his second consecutive fifty in 31 balls in that over. 

In the ensuing overs, crucial boundaries from Singh and Rawat kept the scoreboard ticking over. East Delhi Riders needed 37 runs from the last 24 balls after they reached 143/4 at the end of the 16th over.

After receiving a lifeline in the 17th over, Rawat took 32 balls to reach fifty. East Delhi Riders, led by Singh, amassed 27 runs in the eighteenth over before chasing the target in 18.3 overs.

Vaibhav Kandpal and Sarthak Ranjan, the openers, provided the North Delhi Strikers a great start after being assigned to bat first, amassing 48 runs in the Powerplay. With ten wickets remaining and the team approaching the 100-run milestone in the twelfth over, the North Delhi Strikers seemed set to smash a massive total against a strong East Delhi Riders bowling unit.

But in the fifteenth over, Ranjan (60 off 42) was caught behind while trying an uppercut off Himanshu Chauhan, ending their incredible partnership of 133 off 85 balls. Following him to the pavilion in the next over against Harsh Tyagi, his partner Kandpal did the same after reaching 66 off 45 balls.

In the final overs, the bowlers for East Delhi Riders mounted a valiant resistance. They contained the North Delhi Strikers and quickly claimed wickets. The North Delhi Strikers were reduced to 168/4 after 18 overs as Captain Pranshu Vijayran (1 off 3) fell cheaply in the 16th over and Yash Dabas played a blistering 21 off 8 before being removed in the 18th over.

After restricting North Delhi Strikers to 179/7 after 20 overs, bowlers Simranjeet Singh (3/30) and Bhagwan Singh (1/17) bowled excellently in the final two overs, conceding only 11 runs and taking three wickets. 

Quick Scores:

North Delhi Strikers were defeated by East Delhi Riders by six wickets.

North Delhi Strikers: 166 off 45, Sarthak Ranjan: 60 off 42, Simarjeet Singh: 3/30; North Delhi Strikers: 179/7 in 20 overs

East Delhi Riders: 180/4 in 18.3 overs (Manan Bhardwaj 1/30, Himmat Singh 85* off 50, Mayank Rawat 66* off 37)