Delhi beat Punjab in rare T20 without an over of spin

[Reuters]

Not one over of spin was bowled as Delhi Capitals beat Punjab Kings by three wickets in Dharamshala in the Indian Premier League.

All 39 of the overs were bowled by pace bowlers across the match, with both captains opting to capitalise on the bounce and seam movement offered by the pitch in the Himalayan foothills, where pace has dominated in recent years.

Only once before - a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings in 2008 which lasted 39.4 overs - has an IPL match included more deliveries bowled by pacers.

A match between Dolphins and Titans in South Africa's T20 competition in 2004, in which all 40 overs were bowled by quicks, is the only other instance of more deliveries being bowled be pace bowlers in a major international or top-level T20 league fixture.

Delhi's fixture was sealed as they chased 211 with an over to spare.

It condemned Punjab, who were the leaders in this year's IPL after going unbeaten though their first seven matches, to a fourth straight defeat.

Delhi were 74-4 in their pursuit before captain Axar Patel and South African David Miller hit quick fifties.

Axar fell for 56 and Miller 51 but Ashutosh Sharma's 24 from 10 balls effectively sealed the win.

It keeps Delhi in contention for the play-offs. They are three points behind fourth-placed Punjab but have played a game more.

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