Delhi Capitals move back to the top of the points table dethroning the Chennai Super Kings as they scripted a comprehensive victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. Delhi continued its winning spree as they outplayed Punjab by seven wickets. The spectacular knock by Mayank was completely overshadowed by the match-winning knock played by Shikhar Dhawan.
Punjab Kings entered the contest with a new skipper, Mayank Agarwal, as KL Rahul is indisposed and is likely to miss a few of the upcoming games. The toss went in the favour of Rishabh Pant and he decided to chase the total. Batting first, Mayank perfectly essayed the role of KL both as a skipper and the batsman as he single-handedly took the team towards a competitive total.
The right-hander paced his innings smartly and emerged as a lone warrior for the Punjab-based franchise. The newly-appointed captain didn’t get any real support from other batsmen as nobody apart from Mayank could score even 30 runs. Kagiso Rabada gave the first two hiccups to the team as he scalped wickets of Prabhsimran Singh and Chris Gayle.
The same was followed by Dawid Malan and Mayank scripting a 52-run partnership. However, Malan also marched back to the pavilion after scoring 26 runs while a communication error resulted in Deepak Hooda too losing his wicket due to a run-out. After Hooda, Shahrukh Khan, and Chris Jordan also moved back to the pavilion while playing at four and two respectively.
Shikhar Dhawan fires with the willow
Meanwhile, Mayank Agarwal held his fort at one end and played a captain’s knock as he hammered not out 99 runs off 58 balls. His knock included eight boundaries and four maximums at a strike rate of 170.69. Thus, PBKS managed to post a comprehensive total of 166 runs on the scoreboard in their 20 overs.
Chasing 167, Delhi Capitals got off to an explosive start as Prithvi Shaw was again at his fluent best. The 21-year-old continued his blistering form as he gave Delhi the desired start by smashing 39 off 22. Though Harpreet Brar managed to pick the wicket of the opening batsman in the seventh over, Shikhar Dhawan made sure to not let the momentum slip from DC.
Dhawan played a spectacular knock of not out 69 runs in just 47 balls to help Delhi cross the line. The left-hander stitched small partnerships with Steve Smith, Shaw, Rishabh Pant, and Shimron Hetmyer. The finishing touches were applied by Hetmyer who smashed a whopping 16 runs in just four deliveries.
Here are some of the best memes from the game:
ओ लगदी पंजाब दी आ
ओ लगदी लाहोर दी आ 😂#PBKSvDC #IPL #IPL2021 #Hooda #MayankAgarwal #Mayank #PBKSvsDC #RunOut pic.twitter.com/dUetvayzDo— GurPreet ChAudhary (@GuriChaudhary77) May 2, 2021
Shikhar Dhawan 🙌 pic.twitter.com/0Fufraef2b
— Prarabdha (@PrarabdhaChat1) May 2, 2021
#BestHomeCommentator @Housing#PBKSvDC#DC Fans To #ShikharDhawan On His Winning Performance Today : pic.twitter.com/IL3mMYTZDN
— Himanshu Chourasia (@Rain_Man25) May 2, 2021
KKR openers watching Shikhar Dhawan and prithvi shaw pic.twitter.com/prrWvg7As4
— Prarabdha (@PrarabdhaChat1) May 2, 2021
Shikhar dhawan played a wonderful knock and now he is current Orange cap holder…#BestHomeCommentator @Housing pic.twitter.com/cJ8Br62X5r
— Jatin (@ImJatinV) May 2, 2021
#PBKSvDC
Deepak Hooda and Mayank Agrawal at the non strikers end ….. pic.twitter.com/CEsltXQJ9y— El niño🇮🇳 (@suppandiiii) May 2, 2021
Hooda and Mayank Agarwal today! #PBKSvsDC pic.twitter.com/PA8LhbQhku
— Sriram M (@Sr1ram_29) May 2, 2021
After watching Mayank's inning…
K.L.Rahul to Mayank Agarwal…#PBKSvsDC #PBKS pic.twitter.com/vtETsO3rJK— jenish viradiya (@viradiya_jenish) May 2, 2021
#DCvsPBKS #PBKSvDC #PBKSvsDC
Mayank Agarwal to other PBKS batsman pic.twitter.com/7VSLlMaGU2— Khushi🌻 (@khushhay) May 2, 2021
Shikhar Dhawan to KL Rahul: pic.twitter.com/aWZ3nelXME
— Amit🇮🇳 (@dark__horse007) May 2, 2021
