DC Vs RR, IPL 2024: Delhi Capitals Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With 20-Run Win Over Rajasthan Royals

New Delhi: Delhi Capitals returned to winning ways with a handsome 20-run victory over Rajasthan Royals as they kept their slim IPL 2024 playoff hopes alive on Tuesday. Tristan Stubbs smashed a quickfire 41 from 20 balls to lift Delhi Capitals to 221/8 after Rajasthan Royals opted to field. In reply, Rajasthan Royals were restricted to 201 for 8 with Kuldeep Yadav being the pick of the bowler for Delhi, returning with 2/25. Khaleel Ahmed (2/47) and Mukesh Kumar (2/30) also picked up two wickets apiece.

Delhi Capitals now joined Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants with 12 points each in a mid-table scramble for the playoffs. Skipper Sanju Samson led Rajasthan’s chase with his fifth half-century of the season. But his splendid knock of 86 off 46 balls (8×4, 6×6) came to an end after Shai Hope took a controversial catch at the edge of long-on boundary.

Thereafter, Kuldeep gave a twin blow in his final over to virtually end Rajasthan’s hopes. Earlier, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin jolted Delhi Capitals with wickets in his successive overs but pacer Avesh Khan bled runs as the hosts posted 221/8. Had it not been some smart bowling by Ashwin and fellow off-spinner Riyan Parag in the middle overs, DC would have put more runs on the board

Young Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk (50 off 20 balls) continued with his splendid form while Abhishek Porel contributed 65 off 36 balls. Tristan Stubbs chipped in with a useful 20-ball 41 but skipper Rishabh Pant’s (15) bat did not talk much.

Royals pacer Trent Boult and Sandeep Singh came in with hit-the-deck approach and largely succeeded in not letting home openers swing freely. The initial boundaries were largely well-timed drives and lofted shots in the ‘V’ space. Fraser-McGurk grew restless and began to throw his bat around. The Australian gradually got his rhythm and was harsh on Avesh, who he blasted for 28 runs, plundering four fours and two sixes in the fourth over of the innings to complete his half-century in just 19 balls.

As fate would have it, Fraser-McGurk had a soft dismissal when he hit a full-toss from Ashwin straight to cover fielder Donovon Ferreira. Shai Hope too departed soon in a rather unfortunate fashion. Porel hit Sandeep straight, the ball touched the bowler’s hand before crashing into the stumps, and caught the West Indian outside the crease.

Yuzvendra Chahal (1/48 in 4 overs) began with a slightly fullish length and was hammered for six by Porel. Parag, though, did a great job with his off-spin as he managed to keep the batters quiet. Ashwin returned and got rid of Axar Patel, who had just hit Parag for a maximum.

Porel though kept going strong and completed his fifty while Avesh continued to bleed runs. In his two overs, he conceded 42 runs. RR captain Sanju Samson handed the ball to Ashwin and he delivered yet again, this time sending back Porel with a back of the length ball that the southpaw could not connect well. The home skipper didn’t do much, throwing his wicket away with a sweep shot off Chahal. DC gathered 65 runs from the last five overs.