Punjab Kings stun Delhi ⁠Capitals with record run-chase after KL Rahul heroics

[p]In all, 529 runs were plundered in 38.5 ‌overs in a remarkable exhibition of T20 batting, with a ‌combined 33 sixes clearing the ropes at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/punjab-kings/juzL6jnm/"]Punjab[/a] captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/iyer-shreyas/INzfXBtM/"]‌Shreyas Iyer[/a] was left searching for words after his team ‌[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/delhi-capitals-tv8Qjdkq/punjab-kings-juzL6jnm/?mid=zaqUWC1b"]chased down a record 265-run target[/a] with seven balls to spare.[/p][p][b]"I'm running out of words, honestly speaking,"[/b] said Iyer, who led by example with ‌an unbeaten 71.[/p][p][b]"We discussed that in the previous ⁠games, we chased around 220–225 ‌with two overs left. So the mindset was very much similar."[/b][/p][embed guid="a455b07c-c40d-4ec1-8394-ae725cb3d1aa" url="https://x.com/PunjabKingsIPL/status/2048046878588346552" social-type="twitter" /][p]Punjab, chasing ​their maiden IPL title, cemented their position atop the standings after their sixth win in seven matches, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/delhi-capitals/tv8Qjdkq/"]​Delhi[/a] are sixth at the halfway stage of their campaign.[/p][p]It was Delhi, who looked to be in the box seat after Rahul ⁠led their charge with ​a stunning 67-ball knock that included nine sixes and 16 fours.[/p][p][b]Rahul and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rana-nitish/ptXCQtA0/"]Nitish Rana[/a] (91) milked 220 runs in their extraordinary 96-ball partnership as Delhi racked up 264-2, their highest ever total in the ‌10-team league.[/b][/p][p]Chasing a steep target, Punjab openers [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arya-priyansh/QLEcAOLH/"]Priyansh Arya[/a] (43) and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/singh-prabhsimran/0nQp4lte/"]Prabhsimran[/a] (76) responded in kind, taking the attack straight to Delhi's bowlers from the outset.[/p][p]They pillaged 116 runs from the first six powerplay overs with audacious power-hitting to set the tone for a successful chase.[/p][embed guid="36c323f3-df4c-4e2e-b81d-b2a7b1896335" url="https://x.com/PunjabKingsIPL/status/2048054466285551953" social-type="twitter" /][p]Iyer clobbered seven sixes in his 36-ball blitz to guide his side home, aided by two costly reprieves.[/p][p]The right-hander was dropped twice, on 28 and 35, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nair-karun/jBu1xKw6/"]Karun Nair[/a] spilling both ‌chances.[/p][p][b]"Looking at the kind of wicket, if you don’t support your ​bowlers and keep giving away so many chances, then I ‌feel we deserved to lose,"[/b] Delhi captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/patel-akshar/nkmFJGY8/"]Axar Patel[/a] said in a blunt assessment of his side's fielding.[/p][p]Delhi fast bowler [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ngidi-lungi/fZWl9EcE/"]Lungi Ngidi[/a] left the game in an ambulance after sustaining a head injury while fielding. The South African was stable ⁠and set to be discharged ⁠soon from a city ‌hospital, organisers said later.[/p]