In a gripping encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Capitals (DC) clinched a 20-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The win added a fresh twist to the points table, as DC joined three other teams with 12 points, heating up the playoff race.
Electing to bowl first after winning the toss, Rajasthan Royals were confident in their batting prowess to chase any target set by Delhi Capitals. The pitch, known for producing high scores throughout the season, promised another run-fest. DC openers took on the challenge and provided a flying start to their team.
Jake Fraser-McGurk, in particular, was in scintillating form, smashing his way to a 19-ball half-century. Remarkably, this was his slowest fifty of the season, underscoring the impact he has had throughout the tournament. Avesh Khan’s fourth over turned into a nightmare for RR as Fraser-McGurk plundered four fours and two sixes, completing his fifty during the same over.
However, right after this explosive start, R Ashwin managed to dismiss him as Fraser-McGurk hit a ball straight to Donovan Ferreira at cover. Abishek Porel, who had been building his innings quietly, saw his chance to take charge after Fraser-McGurk’s departure. A steady start turned into an aggressive one as he picked boundaries consistently. Despite an early run-out of Shai Hope, Porel remained undeterred and continued to attack the bowlers.
Axar Patel provided solid support until Ashwin struck again in the 10th over, catching him at long-on. By the halfway mark, DC were well positioned at 115 for three, seemingly on course for a significant total. Porel reached his maiden TATA IPL 2024 half-century in just 28 balls by the 11th over, hitting a six off Avesh.
DC’s progress was briefly stymied as they lost a few quick wickets in the middle overs. Porel was dismissed for a solid 65 by Sandeep Sharma, while Rishabh Pant fell to Yuzvendra Chahal, marking his 350th T20 wicket. Tristan Stubbs and Gulbadin Naib then took on the task of stabilizing the innings before opening up in the final overs.
Stubbs showcased his typical aggressive style, accumulating runs quickly. His 20-ball 41 included three fours and three sixes, with two of those maximums coming in the last over bowled by Sandeep Sharma. Chahal’s penultimate over, however, was a turning point as he conceded 21 runs, giving DC the upper hand.
Razikh Salam, who came in as an impact player, added to the finishing touches by driving two boundaries, sending the DC dugout into jubilations. DC concluded their innings at 221 for eight, a formidable score but one that kept RR hopeful given recent high-scoring precedents.
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Rajasthan’s chase got off to a rocky start as Yashaswi Jaiswal smashed the first ball for a four but was caught off Khaleel Ahmed on the very next delivery. Impact player Jos Buttler took his time to settle in, while skipper Sanju Samson proactively set the pace for the chase.
Samson celebrated his 200th IPL six in style, pounding a massive hit in the third over. He continued his onslaught, smacking Ishant Sharma for boundaries. Mukesh Kumar almost handed DC another breakthrough in the fifth over, but a dropped catch gave Buttler a lifeline. Samson led RR past fifty soon after.
Axar Patel’s tight sixth over saw the end of Buttler, who inside-edged onto his stumps. RR struggled to maintain momentum as runs became hard to come by, especially with Riyan Parag taking time to adjust. By the halfway stage, RR had managed 93 for two, lagging behind the required rate. Parag’s innings ended at 27 in the 11th over, caught by Rasikh.
With the onus on Samson, he ramped up the scoring rate, well-supported by Shubham Dube’s rapid 25 from 12 balls. In just under five overs, the duo added 59 runs, reigniting RR’s hopes. Samson finally fell for an elegant 86 off 46 balls, captured brilliantly on the boundary by Hope off Mukesh’s delivery.
The match swung like a pendulum in the slog overs. RR, despite losing wickets, kept the boundary count ticking. Dube’s eventual downfall for 25 and Ferreira’s leg-before wicket by Kuldeep Yadav in the 18th over were critical blows. Kuldeep’s over, yielding only four runs and two wickets, was a game-changer.
Requiring 37 off the last two overs, all hopes were pinned on Rovman Powell. However, Rasikh delivered a superb penultimate over, allowing just eight runs and cramping Powell for space. The final over needed 29 runs, a tall ask. Mukesh dismissed Powell on the second ball, sealing a tense and thrilling victory for DC.
With this win, DC not only celebrated a key triumph but also spiced up the competition, making the IPL 2024 points table a battleground of equals vying for playoff spots.