PICS: Dhawan leads the way as Delhi demolish Punjab

Images from Sunday's second IPL match, between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, in Mumbai.

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Shikhar Dhawan led the charge with a swashbuckling 92 as Delhi Capitals overhauled a 196-run target to beat Punjab Kings by six wickets in the IPL match, at the Wankhede stadium, in Mumbai, on Sunday.

The opener displayed sublime touch during his 49-ball knock, which was studded with 13 fours and two sixes, as Delhi won with ten balls to spare.

Dhawan was ably supported by Prithvi Shaw (32 off 15) first up and then skipper Rishabh Pant (15) and Marcus Stoinis (27 not out).

The victory took Delhi Capitals to second in the points table, behind Royal Challengers Bangalore, who earlier in the evening beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 38 runs in Chennai.

Punjab Kings suffered their second defeat in three matches.

Arshdeep Singh opened the bowling for Punjab Kings and Shaw got Delhi Capitals going, scoring four runs off the first three balls before Dhawan kicked off his innings with a powerful boundary as 10 runs came off the first over.

The pair continued to attack, taking 11 from the next over bowled by Mohammed Shami.

Punjab Kings got off-spinner Jalaj Saxena to bowl the third over in a bid to check the scoring, but without success as 10 runs came off it.

Another change in bowling at the other end saw Jhye Richardson at the receiving end, as Delhi amassed 43 without loss after four overs. Shaw was 31 off 15 balls.

But just when the two openers were cruising, Arshdeep returned to the attack for his second over and got the much-needed wicket of Shaw with his third delivery, Chris Gayle taking a good catch at square leg.

Shaw was back after scoring 32 off 17 balls and Delhi 59-1.

After the first six overs Delhi were 62-1.

Dhawan grew in confidence even as Steve Smith, the new-man in, took time to settle down and posted his second fifty in three innings in the 10th over as Delhi got to 99 for 1 at the half-way stage.

Riley Meredith, bowling his first over, gave Punjab Kings their second wicket with his last delivery of the 11th over, having Smith caught by Richardson at third man for 9 off 12 balls.

Delhi were two down for 107 and after 12 overs 112, needing 79 runs from 48 balls for victory, with Dhawan (71 off 41) and skipper Rishabh Pant (3 off 2) at the crease.

Dhawan continued to chip away at the runs, hitting three fours in the 14th over and getting to 91 off 47 balls.

He added another a single to his total in the next over before Richardson, back in the attack in the 15th over, struck with his fifth delivery.

Dhawan went for another big one, missed the line and was bowled. He was out for 92 off 49 and Delhi were reduced to 152 for 3 after 15 overs.

Shami returned to the attack for his fourth over, the 17th of the match, and was punished. Perhaps, this over cost Punjab the match. Marcus Stoinis sent a free-hit for a boundary after no-ball was called; then there was a review for a catch at backward point after Jalal Saxena seemed to have taken an excellent catch. Again, a no-ball was called as the third umpire ruled the delivery above the waist. Shami bowled for the free-hit, and Stoinis, this time, sent it for six runs! The Aussie hit another boundary as 20 runs came off the over.

Shami finished his spell, conceding 53 runs without a wicket.

Delhi Capitals needed another 16 runs from 18 balls, and though Richardson had Pant caught by Deepak Hooda for 15 off 16 there was nothing Punjab Kings could do to deny Delhi victory.

Stoinis ended the game in style, scoring a boundary. He was unbeaten on 27 off 13 balls as Delhi Capitals won by six wickets.

Earlier, a 122-run opening stand between Mayank Agarwal and captain K L Rahul laid the platform for Punjab Kings’s challenging 195 for 4.

Agarwal scored 69 off 36 balls, while Rahul 61 off 51 to get Punjab off to a flying start.

Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant's decision to bowl after winning the toss backfired as the opening duo took the attack to the opposition bowlers from the onset, hitting boundaries and sixes at will.

While Agarwal was the aggressor initially, Rahul upped the ante after a relatively sedate start.

Ravichandran Ashwin (0-28) was economical among the Delhi Capitals bowlers, while Avesh Khan (1-33), Meriwala (1-32), Chris Woakes (142) and Rabada (1-43) were taken to the cleansers by the two openers.

Birthday boy Rahul and Agarwal opened the Punjab Kings innings while Chris Woakes bowled Delhi Capitals's first over.

Rahul and Agarwal attacked from the start, putting on 59 runs in the first six overs, off which the former scored 23 off 24 balls and Agarwal 30 off 13.

Agarwal got to his 50, which included 7 fours and 2 sixes, off just 25 balls, with a four off Avesh Khan in the tenth over as Punjab amassed 94 at the half-way mark.

He grew in confidence, hitting Kagiso Rabada for two sixes in the next over as 20 runs came off it and Punjab King swelled their total to 114 without loss.

Lukman Meriwala, bowling his third over, broke the partnership, dismissing Agarwal with the fourth delivery of the 13th over.

The left-arm pacer bowled a fuller one wide outside off and Agarwal swung it to sweeper cove, where Shikhar Dhawan took the catch easily.

The opener was out after scoring 69 off 36 balls, which included 7 fours and 4 sixes, as Punjab Kings amassed 124 for 1 at the end of the 13th over.

Rahul got to his 50 in the 14th over, bowled by Ashwin, but got a ‘life’ when Marcus Stoinis dropped him off Avesh Khan in the next over. He hit a six off next ball.

However, Stoinis made amends by catching Rahul off the second delivery of the 16th over, bowled by Rabada.

Rahul was out for 61 off 51 balls. Punjab Kings were 150-2 at the end of the over.

Delhi Capitals continued to pick wickets and Chris Gayle was out next.

The West Indian hit a six off Woakes, who returned to the attack, but perished the next delivery to a slower one, offering a simple catch to substitute Ripal Patel at extra cover.

He was out for 11 off 9 balls and Punjab Kings three down for 158 for 3 in the 17th over.

Avesh Khan then got his first wicket, having Nicholas Pooran caught by Rabada at deep cover for 9 off 8 balls.

Avesh finished his four-over spell with 1 for 33.

Deepak Hooda (22 off 13) and Shahrukh Khan (15 off 6) scored some useful runs at the end to take Punjab Kings to a handsome 195 for 4.

• IPL 2021