In T20s, it’s never over till it’s over. And on Sunday, it was only over after the Super Over.

Mayank Agarwal did all the hard work and also enjoyed a slice of luck to play a splendid knock that had almost taken Kings XI Punjab home. But with one run required from last three balls, he faltered and was dismissed off the penultimate ball and eventually the match went into a Super Over.

Delhi Capitals then prevailed in the Super Over to begin their IPL XIII campaign with a thrilling victory at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

Innings-wise, Mayank overshadowed Marcus Stoinis whose tremendous batting at the death lifted Delhi Capitals to 157/8, something that looked most unlikely. But it was Stoinis who had the last laugh.

Mayank Agarwal of Kings XI Punjab on way to his 89. Picture courtesy: IPL

When all that Mayank needed to do off the final three balls was just take a single, he hit a full toss straight to the lone fielder at sweeper cover. And off the last ball of the match, Chris Jordan played another full toss straight to Kagiso Rabada, who reacted sharply at square leg. Stoinis thus did his job with the ball too and both teams then went into the Super Over with identical scores.

In the Super Over, Rabada, off whose bowling Mayank was let off by Delhi Capitals captain Shreyas Iyer in the penultimate over of the game, kept his line and length right to get rid of Kings XI captain KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran, who suffered the ignominy of bagging a pair of sorts and getting bowled twice in a T20 match.

Delhi Capitals needed just three to win and they reached home with four balls to spare. Also surprising was why the Kings XI didn’t send in Mayank to bat in the Super Over, unless of course he was suffering from cramps or had fitness issues.

The game could have been a lot more easier for Delhi Capitals, though, had Ravichandran Ashwin not put in an unnecessary dive that hurt his left shoulder. Ashwin had bowled very intelligently in his first over, striking twice as he removed Karun Nair and Pooran, conceding only two runs.

Captain Iyer, however, is hopeful of Ashwin’s availability from the next match itself although he agreed that the final decision on the matter would be taken by the physio.

Earlier, Stoinis stole the thunder from Mohammed Shami with a belligerent 21-ball-53 that gave Delhi Capitals a good amount of momentum. Delhi Capitals scored 57 runs in the last 18 balls with Stoinis producing a whirlwind knock that had seven fours and three sixes.Jordan, conceding 30 runs off the last over, thus bowled the most expensive 20th over in IPL, a record he shares with Ashok Dinda.