IPL 2021 Match 29: Delhi Capitals thrash Punjab Kings by 7 wickets — as it happened

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Dhawan revels as Delhi Capitals top points table

Shikhar Dhawan (69 off 47 balls) continued his rich vein of form to steer Delhi Capitals to a seven-wicket win over the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League 2021 game in Ahmedabad tonight. Dhawan’s heroics came after stand-in captain Mayank Agarwal struck an unbeaten 99 (58 balls) to guide the Punjab Kings to 166/6, a total that didn’t look possible one stage as Delhi bowlers strangled them.

Send to bat, Punjab, who are without skipper K.L. Rahul (he’s down with appendicitis), lost two wickets in the powerplay, and the scoring never recovered. Mayank repaired the innings with a 52-run stand with Dawid Malan (26) and another 41-run partnership with Shahrukh Khan (4). The new captain’s late flourish enabled Punjab to set up a target of 167.

Chasing it, Delhi’s Prithvi Shah and Shikhar Dhawan made optimum use of the powerplay as they posted 63 for the first wicket. Dhawan, who followed it up with a 48-run stand with Steve Smith (25), added 36 runs with captain Rishabh Pant, and Delhi were home and dry. They now top of the table with 12 points.

Relive the match as it happened ....

Mayank’s 99 propels Punjab to 166/6 over Delhi

Stand-in captain Mayank Agarwal struck an unbeaten 99 to guide the Punjab Kings to 166/6, a total that didn’t look possible one stage as the Delhi Capitals strangled them in the Indian Premier League 2021 match in Ahmedabad tonight.

Send to bat, Punjab, who are without skipper K.L. Rahul (he’s down with appendicitis), lost two wickets in the powerplay, and the scoring never recovered. The loss of regular wickets didn't help their cause.

Mayank repaired the innings with a 52-run stand with Dawid Malan (26) and another 41-run partnership with Shahrukh Khan (4). The new captain’s late flourish enabled Punjab to set up a target of 167. But that’s unlikely to trouble Delhi batsmen. But early wickets could provide a twist.

Delhi Capitals should prevail over Punjab Kings

Dubai: When the Delhi Capitals meet the Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad today, the teams will have vastly differing agendas. While Delhi will look to top the leaderboard, Punjab want to reach the top four as the Indian Premier League 2021 hits the halfway mark. But Punjab has been hamstrung by the absence of captain K.L. Rahul, who is set to undergo surgery for appendicitis.

Delhi haven’t had too many batting worries, with Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan making good use of the powerplay. The absence of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (who’s away to support his family’s COVID-19 fight) and leg-spinner Amit Mishra (injured) haven’t affected them much since Axar Patel and Lalit Yadav have stepped into the breach admirably. Captain Rishabh Pant may be tempted to bring in Ainrich Nortje in place of the misfiring pacer Kagiso Rabada.

Punjab’s batting solidity depends on skipper K.L. Rahul, so his absence will hurt. Mayank Agarwal returns after an injury, and Chris Gayle has only been scoring only sporadically. After a woeful run, Nicholas Pooran should make way for Dawid Malan. The bowling has been effective without being spectacular but certainly not incisive enough to stop Delhi.

So the Delhi Capitals should vault to the top of the points table.