DPL 2026: Dev Lakra's blitz, Anuj Rawat's calm finish help Purani Dilli 6 chase down 181 with ease
New Delhi, Aug 3
West Delhi Lions posted a competitive 180/6 in their 20 overs, thanks to a scintillating innings from Ankit Kumar, who struck a fluent 86 off just 45 deliveries during the Delhi Premier League 2026 contest against Purani Dilli 6 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
The Lions got off to a dream start as openers Ankit Kumar and Krish Yadav dominated the Power-play, stitching together a 90-run partnership for the opening wicket. Krish played the perfect supporting role with a well-compiled 43 off 31 balls before his dismissal brought Purani Dilli 6 back into the contest.
Despite wickets falling at regular intervals after the opening stand, Ankit continued to anchor the innings while maintaining an aggressive scoring rate. He found the boundary with ease and kept the scoreboard ticking, but the lack of substantial partnerships in the latter half of the innings prevented West Delhi Lions from posting a total beyond the 180-run mark.
Pankaj Jaswal was the pick of the Purani Dilli 6 bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of 2/30 from his four overs, while the rest of the bowling unit chipped in with timely breakthroughs to restrict the opposition.
Chasing 181, Purani Dilli 6 suffered the worst possible start as Rohan Rana was dismissed off the very first ball of the innings. However, the early setback did little to affect their approach as Samarth Seth and Dev Lakra combined brilliantly to rebuild the innings. The duo added 94 runs for the second wicket, taking the attack to the bowlers and shifting the momentum firmly in Purani Dilli 6's favour.
Lakra was the aggressor throughout the partnership, producing a sensational knock of 64 off just 33 balls, laced with four boundaries and six towering sixes. Seth complemented him well with a composed 30 off 29 deliveries, ensuring there was no further collapse after the early wicket.
Following Lakra's dismissal, captain Anuj Rawat took complete control of the chase. The left-hander played another classy innings, remaining unbeaten on 49 off 26 balls, while Lalit Yadav provided the finishing touches with a brisk 30* off 17 deliveries. The pair shared an unbeaten partnership to steer Purani Dilli 6 home comfortably, sealing a seven-wicket victory with more than two overs to spare.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Anuj Rawat's captain's knock was the difference. 49 off 26 when the team needed calm leadership - that's maturity beyond his years. Also have to give credit to Lalit Yadav for that quick finish. DPL is becoming a great platform for young talents to showcase their skills. Proud to see this level of cricket in Delhi!
Great chase by Purani Dilli 6! That first-ball wicket could have rattled any team, but the way Samarth Seth and Dev Lakra rebuilt was impressive. I've been following the DPL and the quality of cricket here keeps improving. Ankit Kumar's 86 also deserves a mention - he looked in complete control throughout his innings.
Honestly, West Delhi Lions under-bowled in the death overs. When you have 180 on the board, you need your best bowlers to step up. Pankaj Jaswal was excellent with 2/30, but the others leaked runs at crucial moments. Still, great advert for Delhi cricket - the future of Indian cricket is in safe hands! 🇮🇳🏏
That 94-run partnership between Lakra and Seth was the turning point. They didn't panic after the early wicket, which shows excellent cricket temperament. And the way Anuj finished it off - just classy left-handed batting. Also thrilled to see the Arun Jaitley Stadium packed for domestic cricket. Dilli cricket ka josh alag hai! 🔥
Terrific match! I'm always impressed by how these young players handle pressure in domestic
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