In what was a thrilling encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the Delhi Capitals (DC) emerged victorious against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 20 runs in Match 56 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. This win propels DC to 12 points on the points table, making the competition even more intriguing as they now stand alongside three other teams.
On a pitch historically known for big scores in the TATA IPL 2024, RR won the toss and opted to bowl, confident in their batting lineup’s ability to chase down any total posted by the opposition. The game’s tempo was set right from the start, as DC openers came out all guns blazing.
Youngster Jake Fraser-McGurk was in scintillating form, striking a rapid 19-ball half-century. Astonishingly, this was his slowest fifty of the season, showcasing his extraordinary impact on the tournament. The fourth over, bowled by Avesh Khan, was particularly destructive as Fraser-McGurk hammered 28 runs off it, including four boundaries and two sixes, completing his half-century in the process.
However, the fireworks were short-lived as R Ashwin dismissed Fraser-McGurk when he found Donovan Ferreira at cover. Abishek Porel, at the other end, had started steadily with a couple of early boundaries. He took center stage after Fraser-McGurk’s departure, maintaining the aggressive tempo. Despite an early run-out of Shai Hope, Porel attacked the bowlers consistently. Axar Patel supported him until the 10th over, only to be caught at long-on off Ashwin. By the halfway stage, DC were well positioned at 115 for three.
In the 11th over, Porel reached his maiden half-century of the season with a massive six off Avesh Khan, taking just 28 balls. As DC seemed set for a mammoth score, they experienced a middle-over slump, losing wickets in quick succession. Porel was caught for a commendable 65 off Sandeep Sharma’s bowling, while Rishabh Pant fell to Yuzvendra Chahal, who celebrated his 350th wicket in T20 cricket, a commendable milestone.
Gulbadin Naib and Tristan Stubbs joined forces in the middle, initially focusing on consolidation before shifting gears in the final overs. Stubbs executed a late surge, smashing 41 runs off just 20 balls, including three sixes and three fours, with two sixes coming in the last over bowled by Sandeep Sharma. Chahal, previously economical, faced a tough time as his 18th over conceded 21 runs, setting the stage for a final onslaught. Rasikh Salam, introduced as an Impact Player, contributed timely boundaries and DC concluded their innings at an imposing 221 for eight.
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The chase for RR required a stellar performance from their key players, and captain Sanju Samson led from the front. The innings began dramatically with Yashaswi Jaiswal hitting the first ball for four but getting caught off the very next ball by Khaleel Ahmed. English batsman Jos Buttler, brought in as an Impact Player, took his time to settle. This was Samson’s cue to take charge, hitting a massive six off Khaleel in the third over, marking his 200th six in TATA IPL history.
Samson continued his assault, hitting Ishant Sharma for a couple of fours and a six in the fourth over. Buttler, struggling for fluency, got a reprieve as Tristan Stubbs dropped a catch off Mukesh Kumar’s bowling in the fifth over. Despite this, Samson’s aggressive approach saw RR surpass fifty within the powerplay.
Axar Patel provided a breakthrough by dismissing Buttler, who inside-edged the ball onto his stumps. Riyan Parag joined Samson but found it difficult to accelerate. By the 10th over, RR stood at 93 for two, requiring an upswing in run rate. Rasikh Salam removed Parag for 27, causing further pressure on RR.
Samson, undeterred, continued his onslaught, well supported by Shubham Dube, who struck 25 off just 12 balls. Together, they accelerated the innings, adding crucial runs to reignite RR’s chase. Samson crossed his fifty and kept the scoreboard ticking until Mukesh Kumar dismissed him for an impressive 86 off 46 balls, a critical moment in the match as Hope made a stunning catch at long-on.
The final overs turned into a dramatic contest, with RR combining boundary hits and wickets. Dube’s wicket, Ferreira’s leg-before by Kuldeep Yadav, and Ashwin’s dismissal off Kuldeep’s last over, which yielded only four runs, left RR needing 37 off the final two overs. Responsibility shifted to Rovman Powell, but Rasikh bowled a miserly penultimate over, giving only eight runs and denying Powell any room.
The final over tasked RR with an improbable 29 runs. Mukesh Kumar effectively sealed the game by bowling Powell off the second delivery, securing a well-deserved win for DC. As the points table tightens, the remaining matches in the TATA IPL 2024 promise even more excitement and high stakes competition.