In a thrilling encounter on Tuesday, Delhi Capitals emerged victorious against Rajasthan Royals by 20 runs, despite a remarkable 86-run innings by Rajasthan’s skipper Sanju Samson. The result keeps Delhi Capitals in contention for an IPL playoff spot.
Delhi set a formidable total of 221-8, powered by an explosive 20-ball 50 from Jake Fraser-McGurk and a dynamic 65 from Abishek Porel at their home ground, the Feroz Shah Kotla.
Rajasthan’s chase appeared promising, especially after Samson’s fifth half-century of the season. However, a crucial catch in the deep, initially contentious but ruled clean by the third umpire, shifted the momentum in Delhi’s favor. Rajasthan lost crucial wickets in quick succession, ultimately finishing at 201-8 in their allotted overs.
Reflecting on the match, Samson lamented missed opportunities, acknowledging that the target was achievable but admitting such twists are common in the IPL.
Despite the loss, Rajasthan remains well-placed in the standings, with eight wins in 11 matches and a strong chance of securing a top-two finish.
Delhi’s victory was set up by their batters, with Fraser-McGurk and Porel laying a solid foundation with an aggressive opening stand of 60. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav impressed with figures of 2-25, supported by Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Kumar, who also claimed two wickets each.
While Rajasthan’s chase was led by Samson, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal made significant contributions with the ball for Delhi, with Ashwin taking 3-24 and Chahal achieving a milestone by claiming his 350th T20 wicket.
Despite the defeat, both teams showcased exceptional cricketing prowess, setting the stage for an exciting culmination to the IPL season.
