RR vs DC in 50 words
Sakariya, Marsh and Nortje all picked up 2-fers to keep RR’s total down to 160. While chasing, it was the Marsh show (89 off 62) with Warner (52* off 41) providing ample support to ensure DC got home with almost a couple of overs to spare.
A Disciplined Bowling Show
Once again, the flip of the coin went DC’s way and Captain Pant opted to bowl first as we played our second consecutive match at DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai. There were two changes for us - Ripal Patel and Khaleel missed out, making way for Lalit Yadav and Sakariya in the XI.
It was an uncharacteristic slow start for the Royals for the first three overs as Sakariya and Anas were right on the money with the new ball. Sakariya drew first blood. It was the vital wicket of Buttler with him giving an easy catch to Shardul at mid-on.
Royals sent Ashwin at number 3 and it worked out well for them as he started a counter-attack alongside Jaiswal. With a few big shots in the next 3 overs, the powerplay tally went up to 43/1.
Soon after the field restrictions were lifted, Mitch Marsh was called into the attack and he got us the 2nd breakthrough of the night in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal. The middle overs saw another decent partnership building up as Padikkal and Ash played some good shots to bring up a 50-run stand and the latter went on to score his maiden IPL fifty as well.
Pant was spot on with his bowling changes, as the Bison was called back into the attack at the right time and he picked up his second wicket for the night, sending Ashwin back to the dug-out right after his half-century.
RR skipper Samson was out in the middle and Anas came back in the death with timely strikes as he picked up Samson and Padikkal off the very first deliveries of his next two overs, while Sakariya struck again in between those two overs to end with brilliant figures of 2/23.
The Bison and the Bull
After losing Srikar Bharat cheaply in the very first over, Marsh and Davey started the proceedings slow as the RR pace battery was on point with the new ball. The first three overs only conceded 5 runs, but it wasn’t a fair representation of what was to come.
Marsh broke the shackles with a beautiful lofted inside-out six off Ashwin, after which the duo ticked the scoreboard sensibly to collect 38 runs from the powerplay.
Once the field opened up, Marsh opened up further as well. Kuldeep Sen sent them down fast and it seemed to leave Marsh’s bat faster as two maximums came from the seventh over.
The middle overs saw the scoreboard moving smoothly off the spinners too, as Warner slogged one over mid-wicket off Chahal to join the party while Marsh just cleared the ropes over Buttler in yuzu’s next over to bring up his first IPL fifty - A special one indeed.
The Bison and the Bull were unstoppable and went on to bring up the 100-run stand in the 14th over. The clinic however continued, as Warner smashed an Ashwin delivery through the gap at cow corner to collect four while Marsh deposited a short one for six two balls latter.
The 17th over by Boult saw 15 runs coming as Marsh was hitting ‘em sweet. He smoked a 102 meter long maximum over mid-wicket, one of the three boundaries to come off that over. Alas, he was soon dismissed by Chahal, finishing his stellar innings at 89 off 62 balls including 7 monstrous sixes.
Captain Pant didn’t waste much time as he went on to smash Chahal for two sixes over covers, making sure the game was completely in our grasp and also achieving the milestone of 4000 T20 runs.
The winning shot by Warner also brought up his 5th half-century of the season. During the course of this commendable supporting act, Warner also became only the 4th player ever and the first overseas player to register 8 or more seasons of the IPL with at least 400 runs.
The 2 points went a long way in keeping DC well and truly in the race for the Playoffs. A statement win was what we hoped for, a statement win is what Marsh and Co. delivered.
Brief Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160/6 in 20 overs (Ashwin 50 off 38, Padikkal 48 off 30, Chetan Sakariya 2/23, Mitchell Marsh 2/25) beaten by Delhi Capitals 161/2 in 18.1 overs (Marsh 89 off 62, Warner 52* off 41, Boult 1/32, Chahal 1/43)
RR vs DC in 50 words
Sakariya, Marsh and Nortje all picked up 2-fers to keep RR’s total down to 160. While chasing, it was the Marsh show (89 off 62) with Warner (52* off 41) providing ample support to ensure DC got home with almost a couple of overs to spare.
A Disciplined Bowling Show
Once again, the flip of the coin went DC’s way and Captain Pant opted to bowl first as we played our second consecutive match at DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai. There were two changes for us - Ripal Patel and Khaleel missed out, making way for Lalit Yadav and Sakariya in the XI.
It was an uncharacteristic slow start for the Royals for the first three overs as Sakariya and Anas were right on the money with the new ball. Sakariya drew first blood. It was the vital wicket of Buttler with him giving an easy catch to Shardul at mid-on.
Royals sent Ashwin at number 3 and it worked out well for them as he started a counter-attack alongside Jaiswal. With a few big shots in the next 3 overs, the powerplay tally went up to 43/1.
Soon after the field restrictions were lifted, Mitch Marsh was called into the attack and he got us the 2nd breakthrough of the night in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal. The middle overs saw another decent partnership building up as Padikkal and Ash played some good shots to bring up a 50-run stand and the latter went on to score his maiden IPL fifty as well.
Pant was spot on with his bowling changes, as the Bison was called back into the attack at the right time and he picked up his second wicket for the night, sending Ashwin back to the dug-out right after his half-century.
RR skipper Samson was out in the middle and Anas came back in the death with timely strikes as he picked up Samson and Padikkal off the very first deliveries of his next two overs, while Sakariya struck again in between those two overs to end with brilliant figures of 2/23.
The Bison and the Bull
After losing Srikar Bharat cheaply in the very first over, Marsh and Davey started the proceedings slow as the RR pace battery was on point with the new ball. The first three overs only conceded 5 runs, but it wasn’t a fair representation of what was to come.
Marsh broke the shackles with a beautiful lofted inside-out six off Ashwin, after which the duo ticked the scoreboard sensibly to collect 38 runs from the powerplay.
Once the field opened up, Marsh opened up further as well. Kuldeep Sen sent them down fast and it seemed to leave Marsh’s bat faster as two maximums came from the seventh over.
The middle overs saw the scoreboard moving smoothly off the spinners too, as Warner slogged one over mid-wicket off Chahal to join the party while Marsh just cleared the ropes over Buttler in yuzu’s next over to bring up his first IPL fifty - A special one indeed.
The Bison and the Bull were unstoppable and went on to bring up the 100-run stand in the 14th over. The clinic however continued, as Warner smashed an Ashwin delivery through the gap at cow corner to collect four while Marsh deposited a short one for six two balls latter.
The 17th over by Boult saw 15 runs coming as Marsh was hitting ‘em sweet. He smoked a 102 meter long maximum over mid-wicket, one of the three boundaries to come off that over. Alas, he was soon dismissed by Chahal, finishing his stellar innings at 89 off 62 balls including 7 monstrous sixes.
Captain Pant didn’t waste much time as he went on to smash Chahal for two sixes over covers, making sure the game was completely in our grasp and also achieving the milestone of 4000 T20 runs.
The winning shot by Warner also brought up his 5th half-century of the season. During the course of this commendable supporting act, Warner also became only the 4th player ever and the first overseas player to register 8 or more seasons of the IPL with at least 400 runs.
The 2 points went a long way in keeping DC well and truly in the race for the Playoffs. A statement win was what we hoped for, a statement win is what Marsh and Co. delivered.
Brief Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160/6 in 20 overs (Ashwin 50 off 38, Padikkal 48 off 30, Chetan Sakariya 2/23, Mitchell Marsh 2/25) beaten by Delhi Capitals 161/2 in 18.1 overs (Marsh 89 off 62, Warner 52* off 41, Boult 1/32, Chahal 1/43)
