RR vs DC in 50 Words
Things looked bleak after the powerplay. However, our big-hitting exports got us to a fighting total of 184/8. But… “Sharjah - A batting paradise.” “200 is the bare minimum at Sharjah.” “Sharjah - A graveyard for bowlers.”
Just some ‘facts’ we disproved at Sharjah with a collective bowling performance.
Stoin, Hetmyer Go Big After Top-order Blip
The spin of the coin went Smith’s way, and the Rajasthan skipper chose to take the field. A couple of attractive boundaries came from each of our openers, before Shikhar had to depart early in the innings after a well-timed flick unfortunately went straight into mid-wicket’s hands.
Shreyas Iyer came back to bat Sharjah, where he scored a magnificent 88* off 38 the last time around, and started off with positive intent. Prithvi Shaw put a couple of fierce boundaries away, but couldn’t take further advantage of the let-off at fine leg earlier as Jofra Archer got his second scalp.
Iyer was looking in great touch, timing them beautifully through the offside. Alas, his knock was cut short by a direct hit after a mix up with Rishabh Pant. The runs were coming, but the digit after the slash wasn’t a pretty sight at the end of the powerplay - 51/3.
😣😣
— Delhi Capitals (Tweeting from 🇦🇪) (@DelhiCapitals) October 9, 2020
DC - 50/3 (5.5)#RockyAurVicky #RRvDC #Dream11IPL #IPL2020 #YehHaiNayiDilli pic.twitter.com/KxwsfChtQI
Stoinis walked in at number 5, and the big man teed off with a massive six that bounced on the Sharjah roof and went onto the highway. He made it back-to-back sixes on the next ball. In Gopal’s next over, Stoinis took him over the ropes once more, this time with a beautiful inside-out lofted extra-cover drive. However, more dismay was to follow as Rishabh Pant found himself run-out going for a run that was never there.
Marcus’ clear mindset came to the fore on the very next ball - The match situation takes a backseat when you see one in your slot. He deposited Tewatia straight over his head.
A couple of quiet overs later, Hetmyer had started to open up his shoulders. But once again, we lost a wicket at the worst possible time as a Tewatia delivery stopped on the pitch to take Stoinis’ top edge and lob to point. As Harshal walked in, things weren’t looking good for us. We’d lost half our side for 109.
Hetmyer played the role of the aggressor as Harshal put focus on getting him the strike. Four solid boundaries, a four and three maximums came from Hetmyer’s blade in the next over and a half. Just when he looked set for a counter-attacking fifty, a fine overhead catch from Tewatia at long on ended his innings. His 45 off 24 balls included 5 sixes and 1 four. Shimron had done a fine job with our backs against the wall.
The Patels, Axar and Harshal got together and ensured that we got to a fighting total at this venue. The 19th over in particular was a fruitful one as Axar launched a few meaty blows in a 22-run penultimate. Jofra Archer didn’t give much away in the 20th, as we mustered a total of 184/8.
A Stranglehold of Epic Proportions
As usual, we had some Protea Fire to start the innings off. Rabada and Nortje had contrasting starts though, as Rabada went for a few while the Rajasthan batsmen found going tough when Nortje hurried them up at the crease. The most mouth-watering battle of the night, Ashwin vs Buttler began in the third over and lasted two deliveries as the off-spinner got rid of the explosive opener with the help of a splendid diving catch by Shikhar Dhawan at square leg.
He can get him at the striker's end, he can get him at the non-striker's end 😉#RRvDC #Dream11IPL #IPL2020 #YehHaiNayiDilli https://t.co/klytcLC0HL pic.twitter.com/IbXhzZsrPu
— Delhi Capitals (Tweeting from 🇦🇪) (@DelhiCapitals) October 9, 2020
Shreyas brought Rabada back into the attack to try and get rid of the rival skipper early, however it didn’t quite go according to plan as 14 runs came off it. At the other end Ashwin was giving absolutely nothing away. If provided with an option when RR began the chase, we’d have taken 41/1 at the end of the fielding restrictions anyday.
Anrich Nortje was having another top night at a venue in which bowlers have traditionally struggled. The South African got together with Hetmyer, who took a screamer at deep square to see the back of Steve Smith. 2-0-5-1 read Nortje’s figures after two overs. Good reading, indeed.
Stoinis was welcomed into the attack with a maximum by Jaiswal. Two deliveries later, the Aussie bounced back in style with the wicket of the big fish, Sanju Samson. Ashwin was at his best against the Royals, as he finished his spell in the 12th over with another wicket to his tally.
Over numbers 11 to 15 were absolutely outstanding from a Delhi perspective, with one wicket coming in each of them. The men behind this incredible passage of play - Stoinis, Ashwin, Stoinis again, Axar Patel and Kagiso Rabada. The Royals were faltering as our bowlers executed plans perfectly at a venue where they had no ‘right’ to do this well.
Some highlights from the next five overs of (almost) formality - Another Hetmyer blinder in the deep, a couple of lusty blows from Tewatia, and Rabada closing out the innings with a customary 3-fer to complete a comfortable 46-run win at the thriller capital of the UAE.
Who said you can't win with <200 scores at Sharjah? 💪🏼#RRvDC #Dream11IPL #IPL2020 #YehHaiNayiDilli pic.twitter.com/1hYPFsQcUF
— Delhi Capitals (Tweeting from 🇦🇪) (@DelhiCapitals) October 9, 2020
Rajasthan Royals’ two-match streak at Sharjah had come to end in emphatic fashion with a three-match winning streak of our own. With five wins in six games, we were soon becoming the team to beat. The signs suggest, it will be anything but easy.
Brief Scores
Delhi Capitals 184/8 in 20 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 45 off 24, Marcus Stoinis 39 off 30, Jofra Archer 3/24, Rahul Tewatia 1/20); Rajasthan Royals 138 all out in 19.4 overs (Rahul Tewatia 38 off 29, Yashasvi Jaiswal 34 off 36, Kagiso Rabada 3/35, Marcus Stoinis 2/17, Ravichandran Ashwin 2/22)
RR vs DC in 50 Words
Things looked bleak after the powerplay. However, our big-hitting exports got us to a fighting total of 184/8. But… “Sharjah - A batting paradise.” “200 is the bare minimum at Sharjah.” “Sharjah - A graveyard for bowlers.”
Just some ‘facts’ we disproved at Sharjah with a collective bowling performance.
Stoin, Hetmyer Go Big After Top-order Blip
The spin of the coin went Smith’s way, and the Rajasthan skipper chose to take the field. A couple of attractive boundaries came from each of our openers, before Shikhar had to depart early in the innings after a well-timed flick unfortunately went straight into mid-wicket’s hands.
Shreyas Iyer came back to bat Sharjah, where he scored a magnificent 88* off 38 the last time around, and started off with positive intent. Prithvi Shaw put a couple of fierce boundaries away, but couldn’t take further advantage of the let-off at fine leg earlier as Jofra Archer got his second scalp.
Iyer was looking in great touch, timing them beautifully through the offside. Alas, his knock was cut short by a direct hit after a mix up with Rishabh Pant. The runs were coming, but the digit after the slash wasn’t a pretty sight at the end of the powerplay - 51/3.
😣😣
— Delhi Capitals (Tweeting from 🇦🇪) (@DelhiCapitals) October 9, 2020
DC - 50/3 (5.5)#RockyAurVicky #RRvDC #Dream11IPL #IPL2020 #YehHaiNayiDilli pic.twitter.com/KxwsfChtQI
Stoinis walked in at number 5, and the big man teed off with a massive six that bounced on the Sharjah roof and went onto the highway. He made it back-to-back sixes on the next ball. In Gopal’s next over, Stoinis took him over the ropes once more, this time with a beautiful inside-out lofted extra-cover drive. However, more dismay was to follow as Rishabh Pant found himself run-out going for a run that was never there.
Marcus’ clear mindset came to the fore on the very next ball - The match situation takes a backseat when you see one in your slot. He deposited Tewatia straight over his head.
A couple of quiet overs later, Hetmyer had started to open up his shoulders. But once again, we lost a wicket at the worst possible time as a Tewatia delivery stopped on the pitch to take Stoinis’ top edge and lob to point. As Harshal walked in, things weren’t looking good for us. We’d lost half our side for 109.
Hetmyer played the role of the aggressor as Harshal put focus on getting him the strike. Four solid boundaries, a four and three maximums came from Hetmyer’s blade in the next over and a half. Just when he looked set for a counter-attacking fifty, a fine overhead catch from Tewatia at long on ended his innings. His 45 off 24 balls included 5 sixes and 1 four. Shimron had done a fine job with our backs against the wall.
The Patels, Axar and Harshal got together and ensured that we got to a fighting total at this venue. The 19th over in particular was a fruitful one as Axar launched a few meaty blows in a 22-run penultimate. Jofra Archer didn’t give much away in the 20th, as we mustered a total of 184/8.
A Stranglehold of Epic Proportions
As usual, we had some Protea Fire to start the innings off. Rabada and Nortje had contrasting starts though, as Rabada went for a few while the Rajasthan batsmen found going tough when Nortje hurried them up at the crease. The most mouth-watering battle of the night, Ashwin vs Buttler began in the third over and lasted two deliveries as the off-spinner got rid of the explosive opener with the help of a splendid diving catch by Shikhar Dhawan at square leg.
He can get him at the striker's end, he can get him at the non-striker's end 😉#RRvDC #Dream11IPL #IPL2020 #YehHaiNayiDilli https://t.co/klytcLC0HL pic.twitter.com/IbXhzZsrPu
— Delhi Capitals (Tweeting from 🇦🇪) (@DelhiCapitals) October 9, 2020
Shreyas brought Rabada back into the attack to try and get rid of the rival skipper early, however it didn’t quite go according to plan as 14 runs came off it. At the other end Ashwin was giving absolutely nothing away. If provided with an option when RR began the chase, we’d have taken 41/1 at the end of the fielding restrictions anyday.
Anrich Nortje was having another top night at a venue in which bowlers have traditionally struggled. The South African got together with Hetmyer, who took a screamer at deep square to see the back of Steve Smith. 2-0-5-1 read Nortje’s figures after two overs. Good reading, indeed.
Stoinis was welcomed into the attack with a maximum by Jaiswal. Two deliveries later, the Aussie bounced back in style with the wicket of the big fish, Sanju Samson. Ashwin was at his best against the Royals, as he finished his spell in the 12th over with another wicket to his tally.
Over numbers 11 to 15 were absolutely outstanding from a Delhi perspective, with one wicket coming in each of them. The men behind this incredible passage of play - Stoinis, Ashwin, Stoinis again, Axar Patel and Kagiso Rabada. The Royals were faltering as our bowlers executed plans perfectly at a venue where they had no ‘right’ to do this well.
Some highlights from the next five overs of (almost) formality - Another Hetmyer blinder in the deep, a couple of lusty blows from Tewatia, and Rabada closing out the innings with a customary 3-fer to complete a comfortable 46-run win at the thriller capital of the UAE.
Who said you can't win with <200 scores at Sharjah? 💪🏼#RRvDC #Dream11IPL #IPL2020 #YehHaiNayiDilli pic.twitter.com/1hYPFsQcUF
— Delhi Capitals (Tweeting from 🇦🇪) (@DelhiCapitals) October 9, 2020
Rajasthan Royals’ two-match streak at Sharjah had come to end in emphatic fashion with a three-match winning streak of our own. With five wins in six games, we were soon becoming the team to beat. The signs suggest, it will be anything but easy.
Brief Scores
Delhi Capitals 184/8 in 20 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 45 off 24, Marcus Stoinis 39 off 30, Jofra Archer 3/24, Rahul Tewatia 1/20); Rajasthan Royals 138 all out in 19.4 overs (Rahul Tewatia 38 off 29, Yashasvi Jaiswal 34 off 36, Kagiso Rabada 3/35, Marcus Stoinis 2/17, Ravichandran Ashwin 2/22)
