Delhi Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals by 13 runs in the 30th match of 2020 IPL season. Delhi moved to top of the table with 12 points in 8 matches, while Rajasthan dropped to 7th place with just 6 points in 8 matches.
Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bat first, Capitals managed below par score of 161/7 in 20 overs before their formidable bowling line-up restricted the opponents to 148/8 in 20 overs.
Shikar Dhawan scored 57 runs in just 33 balls with the help of six 4’s and two 6’s for Delhi. Captain, Shreyas Iyer complimented Dhawan with 53 runs of 43 balls. Jofra Archer’s fine form with ball continues in this year’s IPL as the English man claimed three crucial wickets for 19 runs in his 4 overs spell for Rajasthan.
No other Delhi batsman were able to score more than 18, Rajasthan bowlers did a great job to restrict Capitals from scoring big score by claiming wickets at regular intervals.
England’s power hitting duo Jos Butler and Ben Stokes started the Rajasthan Royals chase of 162 at Blistering pace, Butler 22 runs of 9 balls was dismissed by searing fast ball from Nortje. Captain Steve Smith(1 run in 4 balls), once again got out early to Ashwin.
Ben Stokes looked strong before he got dismissed for 41 runs in 35 balls by debutant Deshpande. Sanju Samson 25 runs in 18 balls and Robin Uthappa 32 runs from 27 balls kept Rajasthan in the game till final overs before quick wickets cost the match for them.
Anrich Nortje, Man of the Match:
“No idea I bowled at 156ks tonight but good to hear it. Been feeling really good so it is nice to see some results. Jos played them really well. Ya I thought I was a touch full. The first ball I didn’t expect him to go. Ya I thought it was best to stick to my strength: trying to hit the stumps and bowl fast. Maybe he was expecting something else, a short ball or something. We have got a good coach, and obviously working with KG and other fast bowlers. Tushar has been nailing the yorkers in the nets.”
Shikhar Dhawan, vice-captain of Delhi Capitals:
“Shreyas is in a bit of pain. We will know more tomorrow. His shoulder is moving, touch wood. I am glad that we won this game. Coming back into this was a great team effort. Quite enjoyed it. We always believed we had a chance. We knew their batting is not that deep. We knew we could get into them if we got the top order. And we have got experience in the bowling. Now we have got a gun bowler in Anrich. And Tushar bowled smartly too, bowling slower balls, making them hit to the bigger boundary.”
Steven Smith, Captain of Rajasthan Royals:
“Disappointing one. Obviously the wicket slowed up a fair but, but we got off to a good start with Jos and Stokesy. Then Sanju and Stokesy got partnership going but we lost too many wickets. On a slow wicket it is difficult to make up runs in the end. We needed to take it deep with set batsmen. Guys kept getting in and kept getting out, and not making 60-odd to see us through. The guys that have the air speed have had the most success. Jofra has been brilliant for us so have Nortje and Rabada for Delhi. We are not in a great position, are we? We have got to quickly move on and come back with a big game in three days time.”
