Ahmedabad: Shikhar Dhawan (69 n o, 47b, 6×4, 2×6) anchored the chase as Delhi Capitals (DC) trounced Punjab Kings (PBKS) by seven wickets in their IPL-2021 encounter here Sunday. Set a victory target of 167 runs, DC crossed the finish line with 14 balls to spare. Shimron Hetmyer (16 n o, 4b, 2×4, 1×6) finished the game off in a jiffy hitting Riley Meredith (1/35) for two sixes and a boundary in the 18th over the innings. Prithvi Shaw (39), Steven Smith (24) and skipper Rishabh Pant (14) were the three Delhi batsmen to be dismissed, but they were never in trouble with Dhawan in the middle.
This edition of the IPL has seen Dhawan in a new avatar. He went for his shots from the start, but never took any risk knowing that the situation was under control after he and Shaw gave DC a rollicking start putting on 63 runs in just 6.1 overs. With the start, DC were more or less in the driver’s seat.
Earlier, after being put in, PBKS were always in trouble losing wickets at regular intervals. It was only stand-in skipper Mayank Agarwal’s (99, 58b, 8×4, 4×6) brilliant knock which took PBKS past the 160-run mark. Other than Agarwal, none of the other PBKS batters could get going against the tight DC bowling attack. Much was expected of Dawid Malan (26, 26b, 1×4, 1×6) on his IPL debut. However, the Englishman was bowled by Axar Patel (1/21) playing down the wrong line.
With KL Rahul indisposed, PBKS hopes rested on Agarwal and Chris Gayle (13). However, the ‘Universal Boss’ was cleaned up by Kagiso Rabado (3/36) early on in the innings and with it hopes of a 190-plus score for PBKS disappeared. The pitch had no venom, but PBKS batsmen threw away their wickets unnecessarily while trying to go for innovative shots. They should have taken a leaf out of Agarwal’s book who played in the ‘V’ and yet scored at a very fast clip.
The victory took DC to the top of the points table as they now have 12 points from eight games and look sure of qualifying for the play-offs.
Brief scores: PBKS 166 for 6 (Mayank Agarwal 99, Kagiso Rabada 3/36) lost to DC 167 for 3 in 17.4 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 69 n o, Prithvi Shaw (39) by seven wickets.