Delhi Capitals defeated Punjab Kings by seven wickets in IPL 2021 thanks to a stormy half-century by opener Shikhar Dhawan. The 167-run target was achieved by Delhi in the 18th over after losing three wickets. Dhawan returned unbeaten after scoring 69 runs off 47 balls with six fours and two sixes. Apart from him, Prithvi Shaw (39), Steve Smith (25) also played important innings. Earlier, the Punjab Kings scored 166 for six wickets on skipper Mayank Agarwal's unbeaten 99 runs. When KL Rahul did not enter the match due to appendicitis, Mayank had to take up the responsibility of captaincy. From Delhi, Kagiso Rabada was the most successful bowler with three wickets. This is Delhi's sixth win in eight matches. Now she has reached the top in the points table with 12 points. At the same time, Punjab has suffered a fifth defeat in eight matches. He is at number six in the points table with six points.
Delhi had a challenging target but their opener especially Shaw dominated from the beginning. He expressed his intentions by hitting six and two fours on Punjab's main bowler Mohammed Shami. Shaw taught the same lesson to Chris Jordan, who landed for the last over of the powerplay, so that Delhi reached 63 runs in the first six overs. Harpreet Brar, however, brought great relief to Punjab soon after, by shaking Shaw's middle stump on a beautiful ball.
Dhawan's 44th half-century
Dhawan and Steve Smith (25 off 22 balls) then rotated the strike and kept the score board in motion. Both of them added 48 runs for the second wicket. Smith gave an easy catch to David Malan, standing at deep midwicket off Riley Meredith, which broke the partnership. Dhawan hit his leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for a six over deep midwicket to complete his 44th half-century in the IPL. When Shami came to perform his next spell, Rishabh Pant (14) welcomed him with a six. Pant returned to the pavilion playing a loose shot but Shimron Hetmyer (16 not out off four balls) easily took the team to the target with two consecutive sixes and fours in Meredith's next over.
Punjab's batting relies on Mayank Agarwal
Earlier, in the absence of KL Rahul, with the help of Mayank Agarwal's unbeaten innings of 99 runs, Punjab Kings scored a challenging score of 166 for six wickets. Agarwal held one end from the beginning and hit eight fours and four sixes in his 58-ball innings. On the strength of his mighty innings, Punjab managed to score 76 runs in the last six overs. He needed sixes off the last ball of Avesh Khan's innings to complete a century but he could only hit a four. Earlier, he had hit fours and sixes on two balls.
Punjab Kings missed Rahul in the top order. Rahul will not be able to lead the team in the next few matches due to appendicitis. Kagiso Rabada (three wickets for 36 runs) took advantage of this by first dismissing Prabhasimran Singh (12 off 16 balls) and then Chris Gayle (13 off nine balls) to take his place. Punjab were able to score 39 runs for two wickets in the powerplay. Rabada's fast ball thrashed Gayle's middle stump and won the battle between these two maharathis.
Malan, Hooda failed
Agarwal and David Malan, playing their first matches in the IPL, were kept under control by Delhi spinners Akshar Patel and Lalit Yadav. Malan, the world's number one T20 batsman who came in the team in place of Nicholas Pooran, was able to score only 26 runs. He hit Ishant Sharma for a six but was bowled in an attempt to play a long shot at Akshar. Agarwal and Malan added 52 runs for the third wicket.
Deepak Hooda (one) was run out in a gaffe, which increased the problem of Punjab. Punjab's score was 90 for four wickets till the 14th over. After this, Agarwal showed his true passion. He hit a six at midwicket on Rabada and then completed his half-century by sending Ishant for a four. Ishant had scored his first over but Aggarwal spoiled his bowling analysis for six in this over. He also hit two consecutive fours on Akshar, who took one wicket for 21 runs in four overs. Aggarwal is the sixth batsman in the IPL whose innings ended on 99 runs.
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