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Delhi Capitals’ (DC) horror run in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 continued as they suffered their fifth loss in a row. Once again, their batters failed to put up a fight and lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on a batting paradise of a wicket by 23 runs despite chasing a relatively smaller target of 175. On-debut local pacer Vijay Vyshak impressed anyone with a three-fer to help RCB to a comprehensive win at home.
Dreadful start
DC's run chase got off to a worst possible start. Impact player Prithvi Shaw tried to sneak a single but got run out by Anuj Rawat for a two-ball duck. In the next over, in-form Wayne Parnell got rid of Mitchell Marsh who returned to the side after his wedding. Yash Dhull in his second IPL game failed to prove his mettle and got out lbw by Mohammed Siraj. DC were reduced to 2/3 in the third over. In the fifth over, Warner tried to accelerate with three consecutive fours off Siraj. Debutant Vijaykumar Vyshak got hit for a boundary by Warner but he made the Australian his maiden wicket for RCB. Warner got out after scoring 19 off 13 balls. At the end of powerplay overs, DC were 32/4.
No Axar magic
Pandey did the bulk of scoring as Axar Patel was held back by DC. Abhishek Porel came out to bat but failed to make the most if it. The wicketkeeper-batter got out to Harshal Patel in the ninth over after scoring just five runs. Axar finally came in the middle and smashed Wanindu Hasaranga for two fours. But this time Axar could not stay for long. Deceieved by Vyshak's knuckle ball, he got caught by Siraj. The all-rounder scored 21 runs from 14 balls.
Pandey's fight in vain
In the 14th over, Pandey decided to shift multiple gears at once. He took on Hasaranga hitting him for two fours and one six. He reached his half-century from 37 balls. Just when the run chase seemed alive, Pandey got lbw and DC's hopes ended with it. His 38-ball 50 was studded with five fours and one six. Vyshak signed off with the wicket of Lalit Yadav in his last over. Aman Hakim Khan hit a four and a six in his 10-ball 18 before losing his wicket to Siraj. In the end, Anrich Nortje prevented DC from getting all out early. He played a cameo of 23 from just 14 balls including four fours. Kuldeep Yadav contributed with seven runs as well to take DC’s score to 151/9.
Kohli dominates
Earlier, Warner won the toss and opted to field first. Once again, RCB got off to a flyer with openers firing from both ends. Marsh in his first over got hit for two boundaries but then he got Du Plessis' wicket. The Proteas batter's stay was cut-short by a brilliant catch from Khan at mid-wicket. He scored 22 runs from 16 balls including three fours and one six. Marsh would have got two in two but Pandey dropped Mahipal Lomror's catch at point. After powerplay overs, RCB were 47/1. In the 10th over, Kohli took on Mustafizur Rahman and hit him for a four and a six. He reached his half-century from 33 balls and celebrated it in a wild style. Lomror ended the over with a six as RCB had 89/1 at halfway stage.
Timely strikes
In the 11th over Kohli lost his wicket off a nothing delivery. Lalit bowled a full toss which was hit by Kohli in the air. He did not have the distance on it and Dhull took the catch at deep mid-wicket boundary. he scored 50 runs from 34 balls including six fours and one six. Glenn Maxwell started off well with two sixes off Lalit. Marsh was brought back into the attack and was hit for a six by Lomror. The left-handed batter could not covert a good start and got out after scoring 26 runs from 18 balls.
Mini collapse
Harshal was promoted up the order. He hit a six off Axar but did not stay long. Axar got his wicket off the last ball of 14th over. In the next over, Kuldeep struck twice to remove a rampant Warner and Dinesh Karthik for a golden duck. Maxwell scored 24 runs from 14 balls including three sixes. Impact player Anuj Rawat struggled in the slog overs and managed to score just 15 runs from 22 balls. On the other end, Shahbaz contributed with a 12-ball 20 cameo to help RCB post 174/6.
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