IPL 2021, DC VS PBKS: DC with a rager win by 6 wickets against PBKS

Shikar Dhawan smashed 92 runs, fetching easy victory for DC against PBKS at Wankhede on Sunday.

Delhi Capitals bounced back in the game by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in  Match 11of the VIVO IPL 2021 at Wankhede , Mumbai.

Delhi went all out to chase and claim the target of 196 in style. Shikar Dhawan changed the game for Delhi by scoring 96(49).

DC started the chase with the duo Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw in the middle who scored 21 off the first two overs. Shaw was the first one with the hard hitting, as he pushed a 6 over long on off of Mohammad Shami in the second over.  The duo then rained fours off of Jalaj Saxena’s deliveries in the 3^rd over.

With DC at a super run rate of 10, Shaw continued to deliver. He added another four off of the pacer’s length to the leg side and then lofted for maximum over long-off.

Dhawan finally broke his silence and scored 3 fours Shami’s over. It was Arshdeep who broke the partnership of the DC duo. Arshdeep Singh’s short delivery had Shaw edge one to Gayle at square-leg.

Steve Smith joined the fray with Dhawan the middle. The duo kept the momentum going in favour of DC against PBKS in a steady fashion.

Dhawan again put up a show with 2 consecutive 6’s and came up with his 50. At the halfway point Dhawan launched a 6 off Richardson, pushing the score of DC to 99/1.

PBKS was then successful in dismissing Steve Smith for 9. Dhawan then smashed  a 6 against Shami over long on and then sweeping  3 fours against Meredith,  adding 18 runs to the total in the 14^th over.

Pant joined the crease with Dhawan and hammered his first 6. Eventually, Dhawan’s fine innings were brought to end by Richardson as the batsmen played a miscalculated  shot and which crashed straight to his wicket. Dhawan left the field with 92 runs.

Delhi needed 36 runs off of 4 overs.

Shami’s 17^th over took a while. He added a front foot no ball clubbed with a delivery above the waist.

The batsmen’s capitalised on the situation hitting two fours and a six and therefore scooped 20 off the 17^th over bowled by Shami.

Richardson broke the momentum by getting the skippers wicket, who misplayed the shot straight in the hands of Hooda at long on.

Lalit Yadav, added two more boundaries as he joined the pitch after Pants fall with Stonis at the other end. Eventually, Stonis finished the chase   for DC with a boundary.

The first keg, PBKS started off at smooth pace adding 20 runs off of DC’s fresh recruit Lukman Meriwala. PBKS openers i.e., KL Rahul and Mayank Aggarwal smashed 3 boundaries and a 6, featuring a free hit that helped PBKS to put up a great start.

Mayank’s then played 2 solidly timed boundaries off of Chris Woakes. The dup quickly painted a smooth 50 run partnership up the charts, exhibiting a fine play a t striking run-rate of 10 runs per over at the end of the powerplay.

Despite the pitch situation, PBKS made maximum use of the opportunities offered by DC, crafting a fine batting experience for the spectators and the players alike from the very start.

The spinners, Ashwin & Lalit also couldn’t break the spell for PBKS who were eying a strong total.

Mayank clearing the edge of the head od the keeper off of Avesh Khan, bowling his first over, brought his fifty placing PBKS at 94 for no loss at the 10^TH over mark.

With boundaries and sixes left right and center, PBKS opening duo successfully brought the 100 runs partnership. The duo continued to bash DC bowlers. Kagiso Rabido was next in line as Mayank and Rahul hammered 3 smooth sixes.

Meriwala brought the much-needed respite for DC. In the 13^TH over of the innings, Mayank ended up playing a catch straight into Dhawan’s grip at deep point, walking off at 69 (36).

Rahul continued to hammer the bowlers and brought up his fifty, hitting Avesh Khan with a boundary and a six in the 15^th over. However, the right-handed batsmen got out for 61 in the 16^th over as Rabada brough the second important breakthrough for DC.

Deepak Hooda, hit the pitch with a maximum straight off a delivery aimed at his ribs. Woakes delivered the 17^th over with an expensive start, as he overstepped. Gayle overstepped on his mistake and pushed the free hit over the ropes with ease. But Gayle was quick to join the locker room, as he gave away a simple catch at covers.

Hooda continued his smashing streak against DC’s Avesh Khan but DC got another wicket of Nicholas Pooran, succeeding yet again in breaking the batting momentum.

The final over concluded with 16 runs contesting DC with a strong target of 196. Shahruk Khan added to 2 boundaries and a 6 to the total as PBKS got ready for their defence with 195/4 on board.