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Images from the IPL 2024 match between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Sanju Samson's entertaining half-century went in vain as Rajasthan Royals suffered a 20-run defeat against Delhi Capitals in a high-scoring IPL 2024 match in Delhi on Tuesday.
The hard-earned victory kept Delhi Capitals' slim hopes of making it to the play-offs.
The hosts posted a huge 221/8 courtesy of openers Jake Fraser-McGurk (50) and Abhishek Porel's (65) coruscating display of power-hitting in the Powerplay.
Chasing a stiff target to secure their place in the play-offs, the Royals were going strong with skipper Sanju Samson leading the way with a brilliant 86 off 46 balls. But his dismissal in the 16th over turned the tide as Royals finished on 201/8.
Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav (2/25 in 4 overs) and left-arm spinner Axar Patel (1/25 in 3 overs) exhibited impressive control to put the brakes on Royals' scoring rate in the middle overs.
With this victory, Delhi Capitals moved to fifth place to join three teams on 12 points. Even if they win their remaining two contests, it will be difficult for them to make the knockout stage as the teams placed above them have better chances of logging 18 points. DC can only get to a maximum of 16 points.
Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had jolted the Capitals with wickets in his successive overs but pacer Avesh Khan bled runs.
Samson's stroke-making was a treat to watch, even as Jos Buttler could not make the most of a dropped chance. Samson treated the seasoned pacer Ishant Sharma with utter disdain, scoring easy boundaries off him.
Buttler struggled to get going and was handed a chance when he was on 8 as Jake Fraser-McGurk dropped a high catch off Mukesh Kumar.
The England batter dragged one from left-arm spinner Axar, who displayed the art of containing the batters on a small ground like Kotla.
Kuldeep too had the batters in a tight leash as the asking rate grew. Rasikh Dar cleaned up Riyan Parag after getting hit out of the park.
Samson completed his fifty with a six off Kuldeep and then launched a severe attack on Dar, who leaked 18 in runs in the 13th over of the innings.
Debutant Shubham Dube supported his skipper well as he hit a monstrous six off Ishant after hitting a four.
Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed bowled four wides in a row before creating a chance to get rid of Samson, who fell to a controversial catch by Shai Hope at long-off.
The Royals' innings fell apart after Samson's departure as Kuldeep claimed two wickets in the 18th over.
Earlier, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed three wickets but explosive fifties from Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abishek Porel powered Delhi Capitals to a huge 221/8 in their must-win match.
Had it not been some smart bowling by Ashwin and part-time spinner Riyan Parag in the middle overs, DC would have ended with more runs on the board.
Young Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk (50 off 20 balls) continued with his splendid form, while Abishek Porel hit a quickfire 65 off 36 balls. Tristan Stubbs provided the firework at the end, slamming 41 from 20 balls.
Royals pace duo of Trent Boult and Sandeep Singh came in with hit-the-deck approach and largely succeeded in not letting home openers swing freely. Fraser-McGurk grew restless and began to throw his bat around.
The Australian gradually got his rhythm and was harsh on Avesh, who he blasted for 28 runs, plundering four fours and two sixes in the fourth over of the innings to complete his half-century in just 19 balls.
As fate would have it, Fraser-McGurk had a soft dismissal when he hit a full-toss from Ashwin straight to cover fielder Donovon Ferreira.
Shai Hope too departed soon in a rather unfortunate fashion. Porel hit a straight drive off Sandeep who reacted quickly as the ball deflects off his hand into the stumps at the non-striker's end with Hope a long way out of his crease.
Yuzvendra Chahal (1/48 in 4 overs) began with a slightly fullish length and was hammered for six by Porel. Parag, though, did a great job with his off-spin as he managed to keep the batters quiet.
Ashwin returned and got rid of Axar Patel, who had just hit Parag for a maximum.
Porel though kept going strong and completed his fifty while Avesh continued to bleed runs as he was hammered for 42 in his two overs.
RR captain Sanju Samson handed the ball to Ashwin and he delivered yet again, this time sending back Porel, who was caught by Sandeep on the off-side.
DC captain Rishabh Pant didn't do much, throwing his wicket away with a sweep shot off Chahal for 15.
But Stubbs took apart the Royals bowlers in the end overs, helping DC amass 65 runs from the last five overs.