Delhi Capitals survive Samson blitz to keep qualification hopes alive

Delhi Capitals came on top in another batting feast at the Arun Jaitley Stadium where both teams racked up totals over 200. Delhi went up to 12 points with the victory and kept themselves in the race for a playoffs spot. They managed to overcome a sprightly innings from Sanju Samson in the chase to end a nervy game on the right note.

What made the difference?

Rajasthan's death overs run-rate suffered a big blip when compared to Delhi Capitals' but as much as that was down to accurate bowling, Rajasthan were left questioning a decision that could have potentially changed the game. Sanju Samson, on 86, was adjudged out caught with Shai Hope overbalancing near the boundary. The third umpire, Micheal Gough, was quick to make a decision in favour of the fielder while some replay angles suggested the need for perhaps a closer look. It left Samson returning to consult with the on-field umpires again before he was forced to walk back to a rather unhappy dugout.

Following that dismissal, Pant turned to Kuldeep for the 18th over, who he'd tactically held back. Kuldeep dismissed Donovan Ferreira and R. Ashwin in that over to finish with figures of 2/25 and effectively closed out the win for his side.

Delhi Capitals:

Fraser-Mcgurk goes berserk

In Powerplay (1 to 6) - 78/2 (11x4s, 4x6s)

Jake Fraser-McGurk broke an all-tim IPL record of having the most number of fifties within 20 balls. That it came in just his debut season is reason enough for awe, just as his batting was once again on Tuesday. McGurk began by facing a different challenge as Trent Boult came from round the wicket and cut off his swinging room, and even managed to hit him on the body to wind him out. But Fraser-McGurk responded to the challenge by making room and lofting Boult for a boundary to kickstart his onslaught. The brunt of that was borne by Avesh Khan who was smacked all around the ground for 28 runs as McGurk notched up his fifty in just 19 balls. Under the pump, Rajasthan Royals turned to the experience of R Ashwin who had a slice of luck with Fraser-McGurk hitting a full toss straight to cover. RR's luck rose as Abishek Porel's firm drive was palmed back onto the stumps by Sandeep Sharma resulting in the run-put of non-striker Shai Hope. Nevertheless, the damage had been done in the powerplay thanks to Fraser-McGurk's belliegerence.

Ashwin plugs a few leaks

In Middle overs (7 to 15) - 83/2 (4x4s, 3x6s)

Delhi Capitals sent in a floater in Axar Patel at No. 4 - a move that did not pay dividends. Samson responded to having two left-handers at the crease by resorting the offspin of Riyan Parag who gave away 17 in his two overs. Moreover, Patel's inability to get the scoreboard moving at a quick rate put some pressure on the other end. But Porel took it upon himself to keep the run-rate going. He found the boundaries against the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal and Avesh Khan enroute to a swift fifty. As RR struggled to prevent the boundaries, they had Ashwin stepping up again with a sharp spell that included the wickets of both Patel and Porel caught eyeing big hits. He finished with figures of 3-24 in his four overs, giving away only one six. His three overs in the middle period yielded no boundary. It sandwiched a similar boundary-less over from Chahal where he prised out Rishabh Pant, giving RR their best bowling period of the innings.

Stubbs lifts DC again

In death overs (16-20) - 65/3 (7x4s, 4x6s)

Sandeep Sharma managed to squeeze in one boundary-less over in the last five, however the other four overs compensated for that dry run. Led by an adventurous Stubbs who picked 16 off a 21-run over from Chahal and then clubbed Sandeep for back-to-back sixes. In between Rasikh Dar, the impact sub for Porel, scooped Boult smartly for boundaries keeping the late surge going and allowing DC to get to a total of 221 - a total that still looked a good one on a ground where 249 has been the average first innings score.

Rajasthan Royals

Samson leads the charge again

In Powerplay- 67/2 (8x4s, 4x6s)

Rajasthan lost their openers inside the first six - Yashasvi Jaiswal miscuing a big hit off the second ball of the innings against Khaleel Ahmed and Jos Buttler chopping on against Axar Patel. But between these setbacks, the batters had a good time, particularly Sanju Samson. He hit 14 in Khaleel's second over which yielded 18 by maximising on the shorter lengths on offer on a true pich. He repeated this in nearly identical fashion in the next over bowled by Ishant Sharma as well to race away. Mukesh Kumar became the third successive pacer to be hit for 6, 4, 4 in an over by Samson as RR made up for a relatively slow start where the first two overs yielded only 9. Buttler, after being dropped by Stubbs off Mukesh Kumar, was beginning to find his groove with a six and a four off Patel but failed to carry on.

Samson continues the charge

In the middle overs - 92/1 (5x4s, 7x6s)

Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel started off well after the powerplay putting a check on the run-rate but it quickly came apart as Riyan Parag hit each for a six to keep RR going. However, he was done in by a well-disguised slower one from Rasikh Dar reducing a promising start to a cameo. But Samson continued unperturbed, hitting a similar slower one for a six. Shubham Dubey, who had played a largely silent part in a 34-run stand until then broke free hitting Ishant Sharma for a four and a six to continue the momentum. Khaleel Ahmed's four consecutive wides in an over rounded off a productive phase for RR who entered the final five needing 62 and a well-set Samson leading the way.

Rajasthan fall apart

In death overs - 42/5 (4x4s, 2x6s)

The wicket of Samson saw the wheels come off the chase although Rovman Powell began with a boundary off his first ball. Shubham Dubey, the other well-set batter, started with a couple of boundaries against Khaleel before he was caught in the deep in the same over. Kuldeep Yadav, who had given away only 21 in his first three overs, came back in the 18th to tighten the screws further. He had Donovan Ferreira LBW off his first ball and Ashwin caught off his last in a boundary-less 18th over that left RR with an uphill task of needing 37 from 12 with Powell the lone recognised batter. Although he managed a six in the penultimate over from Rasikh Salam, the asking-rate was climbing up too steeply and Rajasthan fell comfortably short.

Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 221/8 (Jake Fraser-McGurk 50, Abhishek Porel 65, Tristan Stubbs 41; R Ashwin 3-24) beat Rajasthan Royals 201/8 (Sanju Samson 86) by 20 runs

What next?

Rajasthan Royals have a four-day gap between games before they go to Chennai to take on the Super Kings on May 12 for the first day-game at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in IPL 2024. On the same day, Delhi visit Bengaluru to take on the Royal Challengers in the night-game.