Led by a strong batting performance that set the platform, Delhi Capitals (DC) recorded a 20-run win against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. DC’s victory makes the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Points Table more interesting as they move to 12 points along with three other teams.
On a ground that has produced some massive scores in the TATA IPL 2024, RR won the toss and opted to bowl – putting faith in their batting lineup to chase down any total set by DC. From the very beginning, it was evident that the pitch was conducive to high scores as the DC openers delivered a flying start.
Jake Fraser-McGurk was at his attacking and entertaining best, racing to a 19-ball half-century. Astonishingly, at 19 balls, it is his slowest half-century of the season, highlighting the kind of impact he has had throughout the tournament. The fourth over, bowled by Avesh Khan, was particularly punishing as Fraser-McGurk amassed 28 runs with four fours and two sixes, reaching his fifty within that over itself.
However, his blitz came to an end soon after when R Ashwin dismissed him, with Donovan Ferreira holding on to the catch at cover. On the other end, Abishek Porel started steadily with a couple of boundaries early in the innings and then took charge after Fraser-McGurk’s dismissal. Despite the early run-out of Shai Hope, Porel continued to attack, consistently putting pressure on the RR bowlers. Axar Patel supported him until the 10th over when Ashwin had Patel caught at long-on. Reaching the halfway mark, DC were 115 for three and well on their way to a considerable total.
In the 11th over, Porel hammered Avesh for a six, bringing up his first fifty in the TATA IPL 2024, which he achieved in only 28 balls. Nevertheless, the momentum slowed somewhat in the middle overs as DC faced a few quick dismissals. Porel was caught off Sandeep Sharma for 65, and Rishabh Pant was dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal, who celebrated his 350th wicket in T20 cricket.
Gulbadin Naib and Tristan Stubbs then took over and had to rebuild the innings before unleashing in the slog overs. The final overs were dominated by Stubbs, who was at his combative best, effortlessly finding the boundaries. His 20-ball 41 included three fours and three sixes, with two sixes coming in the last over bowled by Sandeep Sharma.
The foundation for the late onslaught was laid when Chahal, having a good IPL season, was manhandled for 21 runs in the 18th over. Rasikh Salam, coming in as an Impact Player, added to the joy by scooping two fours, delighting his teammates. DC concluded their innings at 221 for eight – a formidable total, though RR felt confident given the high-scoring nature of recent matches.
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For RR, the chase was reliant on one of their big players firing, and captain Sanju Samson rose to the occasion with an extraordinary innings. Yashaswi Jaiswal started with a boundary off the first ball but fell to Khaleel Ahmed on the very next delivery. Jos Buttler, introduced as an Impact Player, took his time to settle, which is when Samson took charge, setting the pace for the chase.
Samson shifted gears in the third over, hitting Khaleel for a massive six down the ground, marking his 200th six in the TATA IPL. The following over saw Ishant Sharma concede two fours and a six. The introduction of Mukesh Kumar in the fifth over almost resulted in a wicket as Buttler skied a catch, albeit dropped by Stubbs. Samson, undeterred, continued aggressively, steering RR past fifty by the end of that over.
Buttler managed two more boundaries in the sixth over but inside-edged one off Axar Patel, triggering celebrations for DC. What followed was a phase where boundaries dried up, and Riyan Parag took his time to settle. At the halfway mark, RR were 93 for two, trailing the required run rate. Rasikh then dismissed Parag for 27 in the 11th over.
Samson, who by then was on 49 off 25 balls, continued to accelerate the scoring with the support of Shubham Dube, who chipped in with 25 off 12 balls. In 11 overs, RR were 103 for three, while the next 29 balls saw them add 59 runs, reigniting the chase. Samson reached his fifty and maintained an attacking stance, but Mukesh eventually dismissed him for 86 off 46 balls, with Hope taking a brilliant catch at long-on.
The closing overs saw a see-saw battle as RR found boundaries but lost wickets too. Shubham Dube was dismissed for 25 in a bid to clear the ropes again, and Ferreira, playing his first IPL innings, was trapped leg-before by Kuldeep Yadav in the 18th over. Kuldeep’s over was pivotal for DC, as he conceded just four runs and claimed Ashwin’s wicket at long-on off the last ball.
RR needed 37 off the last two overs, with eyes on Rovman Powell. Rasikh bowled an excellent penultimate over, allowing just eight runs and limiting Powell’s room for big shots. Requiring 29 off the final over, RR’s hopes were dashed when Mukesh bowled Powell off the second ball, effectively sealing the match for DC.