New Delhi: Eighth-placed Delhi Capitals kept their playoff hopes alive on Sunday in the capital city with a five-wicket victory and four balls to spare. On the other hand, fifth-placed Rajasthan Royals saw their worries increase as Delhi dented their plans of strengthening their playoff claim. Rajasthan have now suffered a hat-trick of defeats at a crucial stage of the tournament. Like Punjab, Rajasthan too were once among the frontrunners in the points table, but are now struggling to stay alive in the playoff race.
At one stage, the target of 194 runs had started looking difficult for Delhi. However, they reached 197 for five in 19.2 overs and grabbed two crucial points from a thrilling encounter. The opening pair of Abishek Porel (51 off 31 balls, 1 six, 7 fours) and KL Rahul (56 off 42 balls, 3 sixes, 1 four) laid the foundation for Delhi’s win with a 105-run partnership. But after that, three wickets fell for just 28 runs and Axar Patel’s team suddenly found themselves in trouble. First Brijesh Sharma and then Dasun Shanaka struck. One-down batter Sahil Parakh from Nashik also departed cheaply for nine, leaving the burden entirely on captain Axar Patel (34 not out off 18 balls, 2 sixes, 2 fours) and the lower middle order.
At that stage, Delhi’s innings was progressing slowly and without fireworks. Then Tristan Stubbs (4) too departed, leaving Axar alone and making Rajasthan players believe victory was within reach. Match-finisher David Miller joined Axar with the clear intention of attacking.
The contest became tense from thereon. Delhi’s batters had played cautiously from the beginning instead of taking risks, and either side could still have won. The 18th over was bowled by South African off-spinner Donovan Ferreira, and Axar smashed a six off the final ball of that over to almost seal the contest. A total of 16 runs came from Ferreira’s over and it eventually turned out to be the turning point.
However, pacer Brijesh Sharma, who had already dismissed opener Abishek Porel, denied Miller the chance to produce magic. Miller, on just nine, holed out to Shanaka at deep midwicket. Ashutosh Sharma (18 not out off 5 balls, 2 sixes, 1 four) then arrived to support Axar. He stayed till the end and in Adam Milne’s 20th over, when Delhi needed seven runs to win, Ashutosh smashed a four and a six off the first two balls to take Delhi home.
For Rajasthan, Jofra Archer and Brijesh Sharma claimed two wickets each, while Dasun Shanaka took one wicket.
Earlier, Rajasthan posted 193 for eight and set Delhi a target of 194, thanks mainly to Vaibhav Suryavanshi (46 off 21 balls, 3 sixes, 5 fours), Dhruv Jurel (53 off 40 balls, 2 sixes, 5 fours) and captain Riyan Parag (51 off 26 balls, 5 sixes, 3 fours). But fast bowler Mitchell Starc (4-0-40-4) came to Delhi’s rescue. He took four of Rajasthan’s eight wickets, while Lungi Ngidi and Madhav Tiwari picked up two wickets each.
Earlier, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed three fours in Starc’s opening over to collect 12 runs. Then came Lungi Ngidi’s over, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi welcomed him with a six off the very first ball, giving him the same treatment he had earlier handed out to Bumrah and Siraj. The 15-year-old Suryavanshi attacked renowned bowlers like Ngidi and Starc fearlessly before young pacer Madhav Tiwari eventually dismissed him.
The 22-year-old Madhav from Madhya Pradesh had Suryavanshi caught by David Miller at long-off. Earlier, Madhav had also dismissed Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly of Punjab, making Vaibhav his third prized wicket.
Today’s match
Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
At Chennai, 7.30 pm.