IPL 2021: Clinical Delhi Capitals hammer Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi to reclaim top spot
Delhi Capitals stormed back to the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 points table after a comprehensive 33-run win over insipid Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
In Short
- Delhi Capitals defeated Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs in Abu Dhabi
- With the win, DC jumped back to the top of the IPL points table
- Skipper Sanju Samson waged a lone battle for Rajasthan Royals
Delhi Capitals continued their impressive run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 as the Rishabh Pant-led side registered a dominant 33-run win over Rajasthan Royals in Match 36 of the season in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Defending a below-par score of 154, Delhi bowlers put up a disciplined effort to restrict Rajasthan to 121 for 6 to return to the top of the points table.
Skipper Sanju Samson waged a lone battle for Rajasthan Royals with a prolific half-century but lacked the support from the other end as RR suffered their fifth defeat of the season. Samson hit one-six and eighth boundaries in his unbeaten 70-run knock. Apart from Samson, all the other RR batsmen struggled against Delhi's bowling attack.
Winners are grinners! @DelhiCapitals seal a comfortable win over #RR in Match 36 of the #VIVOIPL. #DCvRR
Scorecard https://t.co/SKdByWvPFO pic.twitter.com/xltkDgWv5V — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 25, 2021
RR were off to a very poor start as they suffered two early blows in the 155-run chase, losing both openers Liam Livingstone and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first two overs. Avesh Khan got rid of Livingstone in the first over and then Jaiswal soon followed his opening partner back to the dugout edging the ball off Anrich Nortje to Rishabh Pant.
IPL News, DC vs RR: Highlights
R Ashwin joined the party as the DC spinner outfoxed RR batter David Miller for 7 to grab his first wicket in 6 games and 250th in T20 cricket. Royals continued to lose wickets at regular intervals in the 155-run chase against Delhi Capitals as Kagiso Rabada and Axar Patel removed Mahipal Lomror (19) and Riyan Parag (2) in quick succession to dent RR.
Earlier, Rajasthan Royals managed to restrict the Capitals to a par score of 154 for 6 in 20 overs thanks to outstanding bowling performances from Mustafizur Rahman (2 for 22), Chetan Sakariya (2 for 33) and Rahul Tewatia (1 for 17).
Tyagi, the star of the match against Punjab Kings, drew first blood with his very first delivery in the fourth over, cleaning up Orange Cap holder Shikhar Dhawan (8). Prithvi Shaw was the next DC batsman to depart as Chetan Sakariya struck early.
With spin introduced in the seventh over Shreyas Iyer (43 off 32 balls) and skipper Rishabh Pant (24 off 24 balls) started to repair the damage caused by the loss of the openers. The duo, who stitched a 62-run partnership, kept the scoreboard ticking, while also hitting the occasional boundaries at the huge Sheikh Zayed Stadium.