Delhi clinched a hard-fought win with a 20-run victory over Rajasthan Royals, securing two crucial points. This result places them amidst the mid-table muddle with Chennai, Hyderabad, and Lucknow, although Delhi has played one game more than the others.
Khaleel Ahmed provided a solid start with the ball, while Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav steadied the bowling after an early struggle. Rasikh Dar’s dismissal of Riyan Parag seemed promising, but Samson’s aggressive batting kept Delhi under pressure.
Although Delhi dismissed two set batters, the match remained competitive. Rishabh Pant strategically saved Kuldeep Yadav for the 17th over, which proved pivotal as Kuldeep achieved significant breakthroughs. Rasikh Dar and Mukesh Kumar kept their composure and secured the victory for Delhi.
Rajasthan's Run Chase Falters
Rajasthan once again struggled in a run chase despite appearing to be in control. Chasing 222 runs, they faced an early setback with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal, while Jos Buttler struggled at the crease. Sanju Samson stepped up, providing his side with a strong Powerplay start.
Samson and Parag played cautiously against Delhi’s spin attack, maintaining the run rate. Parag’s attempt to take on Rasikh Dar led to his dismissal, introducing Shubham Dubey. Samson picked up the pace, regularly hitting boundaries and forming a partnership with Dubey. However, Rajasthan lost both set batters in quick succession. Although power-hitters Donovan Ferreira and Rovman Powell were in the middle, Ferreira struggled, leaving Powell with too much pressure to handle.
RR Bowlers Struggle
Rajasthan struggled against Delhi’s opening batters, conceding many boundaries in the first four overs. Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Sandeep Sharma’s reflexes sent Shai Hope back. Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal’s spin dismissed Axar Patel, Abishek Porel, and Rishabh Pant, shifting momentum back to Rajasthan and putting pressure on the new batters.
Though initially behind, the bowlers tightened their lines, with Chahal achieving a milestone of 350 T20 wickets. Ashwin claimed three crucial wickets. However, in the slog overs, the bowlers struggled as Delhi continued to score. Trent Boult took a wicket in the 19th over, but runs continued to flow for Delhi. Sandeep Sharma claimed the key wicket of Tristan Stubbs, who had posed a significant threat.
Delhi Starts Strong
Delhi started strong on a good batting track after being asked to bat first. Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abishek Porel dominated the opening overs, with JFM achieving a 19-ball fifty. After JFM’s dismissal, Shai Hope was run out, while Porel and Rishabh Pant built a solid partnership before both fell to spin in one over. This halted the boundaries and increased pressure on the batting side.
Tristan Stubbs added quick runs toward the innings’ end, delighting the fans before falling in the final over. Delhi posted 221 runs, the lowest first-innings total at the venue this season. The bowlers must plan strategically and take timely wickets to swing the match in their favour.
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