IPL 2021: Delhi Capitals defeat Punjab Kings to become the table toppers, Mayank Agarwal’s 99 goes in vain

IPL 2021: Mayank Agarwal’s unbeaten 99 was no match for Shikhar Dhawan’s 69. Delhi Capitals defeated Punjab Kings by seven wickets in IPL 2021. After this victory, Delhi Capitals dethroned Chennai Super Kings to become the table toppers. Agarwal, who has the command of the team while skipper KL Rahul is out, helped the side score 166 for 6. Delhi Capitals easily chased that total in just 17.4 overs overs, making this their sixth win in eight matches.

As for Punjab Kings, it was their fifth loss in eight games, just underlining their inconsistency a little more. 

Openers Prithvi Shaw and Dhawan gave a brilliant start to Delhi after the duo scored 63 for no loss in six overs. Left-arm spinner Harpeet Brar, continued his brilliant performance from the RCB and dismissed Shaw on his very first ball that clipped the off-stump.

After Steve Smith’s downfall, Dhawan stepped up his game. He hit Ravi Bishnoi for a six to complete his 44th fifty in the IPL. Bishnoi gave away an expensive over as Dhawan hit him for a few fours in the same over.

Delhi was unstoppable till the end as the West Indian batsman Shimron Hetmyer smashed two sixes and a four in the 18th over to take DC home with 14 balls left.

Earlier, Agarwal single handedly took the team past 160, and his innings included eight fours and four sixes.

As for Agarwal’s knocks, there are four players who have been dismissed on 99 in the history of the league. RCB skipper Virat Kohli was the first cricketer dismissed on 99, in a clash against SRH in 2013. Shaw marked the second addition, following his dismissal one short of a ton against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2019. Mumbai Indians (MI) batsman Ishan Khan was dismissed on 99 in a league clash against RCB in the 2020 edition. The same edition saw Gayle walking back after scoring 99 runs in a match against Rajasthan Royals (RR).