IPL 2021: Shikhar Dhawan and Shimron Hetmyer propel Delhi Capitals to a three-wicket win as Rishabh Pant and Co. secure top-two finish

IPL 2021: Shikhar Dhawan and Shimron Hetmyer propel Delhi Capitals to a three-wicket win as Rishabh Pant and Co. secure top-two finish

Delhi Capitals

Rishabh Pant‘s Delhi Capitals have emerged as the victors of the table toppers’ clash with the Chennai Super Kings. With the win, DC make it four out of four against MS Dhoni‘s men in the last two seasons. In a low scoring thriller, the Capitals chased down 137 with a couple of balls to spare as they secured a top-two finish.

The first innings saw a rare top-order collapse from CSK following a rollicking start. Birthday boy Rishabh Pant was impressive with his bowlers having called it right at the toss. The top-order collapse exposed CSK’s rusty middle order to a tacky Dubai pitch and none except Ambati Rayudu was up to the task.

Rayudu’s 21st half-century in the IPL saw the Super Kings make it to a decent total of 136. After a long wait, skipper Dhoni finally got some game time in the middle but failed to get going as Avesh Khan dismissed him for the second time in the season. For Delhi, Axar Patel yet again starred with the ball as he picked up two crucial wickets.

Krishnappa Gowtham’s drop catch give Delhi Capitals and Shimron Hetmeyer a lifeline

Krishnappa Gowtham
Krishnappa Gowtham

Shikhar Dhawan yet again starred against the Super Kings as he gave the Delhi Capitals the start they needed. Dhawan’s 35 ball 39 meant DC stayed just above the asking rate. The Southpaw made sure he guided his side through the treacherous middle overs as wickets tumbled at the other end but he failed to get his side over the line.

To the Capitals’ relief, Shimron Hetmeyer rose to the occasion to play a crucial knock of 28 runs. Hetmeyer was lucky as he was dropped by Krishnappa Gowtham when he was on just 12. The drop proved too costly for the men in blue as the West Indian proved key in the DC’s successful run chase which almost fell apart in the final moments.

For CSK, Shardul Thakur was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped two wickets for just 13 runs in his quota of four overs. Ravindra Jadeja too scalped two wickets while Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood and DJ Bravo all bagged a wicket each. In the end, CSK fell short of pulling off yet another scintillating defence in a low scoring affair this season.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Axar Patel and Avesh Khan almost confirm a top 2 finish for Delhi Capitals