Rajasthan Royals scored 185/5 in 20 overs, where as Delhi Capitals scored 173/5 in 20 overs.
So, finally Rajasthan Royals beat Delhi Capitals by 12 runs.
In a thrilling back-and-forth battle, Rajasthan Royals emerged victorious against a resilient Delhi Capitals, buoyed by a combined bowling display and Riyan Parag’s batting heroics.
This consecutive win marks the Royals’ second triumph in the ongoing IPL 2024 season, while Rishabh Pant’s squad faces another disappointing outcome in their second match.
A Royal struggle
The surface at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium didn’t initially favor fluent strokeplay, demanding batters to acclimate to its sluggishness.
Delhi Capitals capitalized on these conditions effectively.
Mukesh Kumar struck first, bowling Yashasvi Jaiswal around the wicket.
Sanju Samson failed to make an impact, falling to Khaleel Ahmed’s round-the-wicket delivery, caught behind.
Shortly after, Jos Buttler fell leg-before-wicket to Kuldeep, whose confidence in the dismissal prompted a successful review.
With the Royals at 36/3 in the 8th over, their innings seemed to be heading nowhere.
A boost orchestrated by Ashwin
In a strategic move, Rajasthan elevated R Ashwin to No. 5, a tactic they’ve employed before to inject momentum into their innings and provide the power hitters with the freedom to unleash their strokes.
Parag and Ashwin combined brilliantly to form a polished partnership worth 54 runs.
Ashwin displayed his versatility by confidently executing sweeps against Kuldeep Yadav and stylish pulls against Anrich Nortje.
His brisk 29 off 19 balls steered the innings back on track, providing Parag, who had cautiously scored a run-a-ball 26 until then, the platform to accelerate his innings further.
Parag’s ascendance
Approaching the climax of the innings, Parag exhibited a keen understanding of the pitch dynamics and the offerings of the bowlers.
Sensing the need to accelerate, he unleashed a flurry of confident strokes to elevate the scoring rate.
Even Khaleel Ahmed, who had been economical until then, faced the brunt in his final over as Parag dispatched him for consecutive boundaries and a six, capitalizing on wide yorkers attempted by the pacer.
Mukesh Kumar’s fuller deliveries didn’t escape Parag’s radar either, promptly dispatched as he swiftly reached his fifty.
However, the pièce de résistance arrived in the final over of the innings, delivered by Nortje.
Parag’s onslaught against Nortje – 25 runs in a single over
In a remarkable display of power-hitting, Parag took on Nortje with ferocity, resulting in a takedown that will be remembered for years to come.
Despite Nortje’s blistering pace, Parag wasted no time in sending the ball to the boundary.
Parag’s luck favored him as he managed to edge a couple of deliveries past the third man fielder, but he embraced the challenge posed by Nortje’s wide deliveries, aiming to clear the square boundaries.
Parag eagerly accepted the challenge even when Nortje resorted to short-pitched deliveries, dispatching him for two massive sixes.
The final over witnessed a barrage of boundaries – 4, 4, 6, 4, 6, 1 – as Parag stormed to an unbeaten 84, significantly boosting RR to a competitive total.
A rollercoaster beginning to the chase
In their pursuit, Delhi Capitals sought a strong start, which they found in the form of the aggressive Mitchell Marsh, who swiftly muscled some early boundaries.
Marsh’s innings saw him strike five fours in his 23 runs, but his momentum was abruptly halted when he was bowled chopping on an incoming delivery from Nandre Burger.
The setback continued as Burger claimed another wicket in quick succession, with Ricky Bhui gloving a sharp short ball to the wicketkeeper.
With Delhi Capitals at 30/2, their chase seemed to be teetering on the brink of a potential collapse.
A rebuilding effort
In an effort to stabilize the innings, the seasoned duo of David Warner and Rishabh Pant came together, adopting a blend of caution and aggression.
Their partnership yielded a composed 67 runs off 47 balls, although it didn’t significantly lower the required run-rate, it provided a platform for a potential late surge.
Despite the quick dismissals of both Warner and Pant, courtesy of Yuzvendra Chahal’s double strike, Delhi Capitals managed to find further impetus towards the end of their innings.
Stubbs makes his mark
Tristan Stubbs was handed a stroke of fortune when he was dropped by Trent Boult off R Ashwin, setting the stage for a barrage of boundaries.
Ashwin found himself dispatched over the fence on a couple of occasions, while Sandeep Sharma’s slower deliveries were met with sheer power.
With Axar Patel adding to the onslaught with a crucial boundary, the equation narrowed down to 17 runs required off the final over.
Avesh Khan took charge and delivered a flawless over, denying the well-set batsmen any boundaries as he executed his plans impeccably.
What lies ahead?
Delhi Capitals enjoy a brief respite with a couple of days off before they clash with Chennai Super Kings at their adopted home ground in Vizag on March 31.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals gear up for their inaugural away match of the season as they journey to Mumbai on the following day.
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