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Rajasthan Royals (RR) rode on splendid knock from Riyan Parag and Avesh Khan's brilliant last over to defeat Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) by 12 runs to notch their second win on the trot in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 clash on March 28. DC were restricted to 173/5 while chasing a challenging 186-run target.
Delhi Capitals run out of steam in challenging chase
While chasing 186, Delhi Capitals got off to a strong start with openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh exploiting the powerplay to build a solid 30-run stand. The partnership was disrupted in the 4th over by Nandre Burger, who sent Marsh back to the pavilion after a quickfire 23 from 12 balls.
Ricky Bhui stepped in next to partner with Warner but was quickly dismissed by Burger for a duck on his second ball faced.
DC's captain, Rishabh Pant, then joined forces with Warner, crafting a critical 67-run partnership in 46 deliveries, until Pant fell to Avesh Khan's pace in the 12th over. Warner played a pivotal role, scoring 49 off 34 balls. Pant's dismissal brought Tristan Stubbs to the crease, but their effort took a hit when Pant was caught out for 28 off 26 balls in the 14th over, off Yuzvendra Chahal's bowling, with Samson securing the catch.
Chahal continued his wicket-taking spree by dismissing Abhishek Porel for 9 off 10 balls in the 16th over. Despite Stubbs' valiant 44 off 23 balls and Axar Patel's 15 off 13, DC couldn't cross the line, hindered by RR' commendable bowling display. Avesh was given the task to defend 17 runs in the final over in which he conceded just four runs to seal the match for RR.
Parag Powers Royals to Strong Total
Earlier, Riyan Parag, single-handedly propelled the Rajasthan Royals to a commanding total of 185/5 against the DC in their IPL clash on Thursday. Following his impressive 43-run performance in the previous match, Parag exploded with a career-best knock of 84 runs from a mere 45 deliveries.
Parag's innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression. He displayed remarkable composure, anchoring the innings after the Royals found themselves in a precarious position upon winning the toss and electing to bat. The early dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal (5) and Sanju Samson (15) threatened to derail the Royals' innings. However, Parag rose to the occasion, stitching together crucial partnerships with Ravichandran Ashwin (54 runs) and Dhruv Jurel (52 runs) to stabilize and rebuild the innings.
Parag saved his most explosive display for the final over, where he faced the fiery South African pacer Anrich Nortje. Unfazed by Nortje's reputation, Parag unleashed his power-hitting prowess, amassing a staggering 25 runs off the final over. His knock was a symphony of clean hitting, peppered with seven boundaries and six towering sixes.
The Royals' initial batting woes were further highlighted by Sanju Samson's dismissal. After promising a repeat of his phenomenal 82-run knock against the Lucknow Super Giants, Samson fell victim to a Khaleel Ahmed delivery, caught by Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.
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Royals Weather Early Storm
The Rajasthan Royals found themselves facing an early hurdle as Delhi Capitals' wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav forced a successful review on Englishman Jos Buttler, dismissing him for LBW. This left the Royals in a precarious position at 58/3 after 10 overs. Stepping up to the challenge was Ravichandran Ashwin, who entered the crease at number five. He wasted no time in asserting his dominance, launching a Kuldeep delivery for a six and helping the Royals reach the halfway mark at a modest 58 runs. Ashwin continued his aggressive batting against Nortje, peppering his next over with two sixes and contributing to a 15-run total. However, his fiery knock was cut short as he holed out to Tristan Stubbs near the boundary ropes, ending his innings at a well-played 29 from 19 deliveries. The baton was then passed to Riyan Parag, who continued his impressive form from the previous match. He smashed two boundaries and a six off Ahmed, propelling the Royals past the 100-run mark in the 15th over. His momentum only increased as he dispatched a Mukesh Kumar delivery through the covers in style, bringing up his first IPL fifty of the season. Parag proved to be a relentless force, taking even Kuldeep to task with a powerful six over midwicket. Jurel's dismissal for a quickfire 20 off 12 deliveries by Nortje seemed to ignite a spark in Parag. He unleashed a flurry of boundaries, electrifying the home crowd at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium and setting the stage for a formidable total.
Now, RR will next face Mumbai Indians on April 1 while DC will lock horns Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 31.
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