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Images from the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals, in Bengaluru, on Sunday.
Delhi Capitals handed Royal Challengers Bangalore its sixth straight defeat in the Indian Premier League, winning Sunday’s fixture in Delhi by four wickets.
The Bangalore batsmen found the going tough on a difficult wicket after being invited to bat first and could only manage 149 for 8 in the stipulated 20 overs.
With the ball not coming onto the bat, skipper Virat Kohli led the way, scoring at almost a-run-a-ball before hitting two sixes late in his knock of 41 off 33 balls. Had it not been for his and Moeen Ali’s contributions RCB would have finished with much less. Ali scored an 18-ball 32.
South Africa paceman Kagiso Rabada led the Delhi attack, claiming four wickets for 21 runs, while Chris Morris (2/28), Axar Patel (1/22) and Sandeep Lamichhane (1/46) chipped in well.
Shreyas Iyer then played a captain's knock, scoring a 50-ball 67 to guide Delhi Capitals to a comfortable victory and bring their IPL campaign back on track.
Iyer anchored the chase with some crucial partnerships as Delhi overhauled the target with seven balls to spare.
He smashed eight fours and two sixes in his 50-ball innings which helped Delhi grab fifth place in the points table and snap a two-match losing streak. They had lost to Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last two games.
Chasing 150 to win, Iyer forged a 68-run partnership with opener Prithvi Shaw (28) after Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed by Tim Southee off in the third ball of the innings.
Pawan Negi dismissed Shaw in the ninth over after the batsman top-edged a delivery and was caught at deep square leg by Akshdeep Nath.
Iyer then shared 39 runs with Colin Ingram (22), who blasted two fours and a six in his 21-ball stay before being trapped by Moeen Ali in the 14th over while trying to play a shot over the leg side.
Rishabh Pant came out with intent, blasting a couple of fours, while Iyer too smashed a six off Yuzvendra Chahal in the 17th over but the skipper miscued a pull off Navdeep Saini and was caught at short cover by Chahal.
With just five runs needed, Delhi survived some anxious moments after losing Chris Morris (0) and Pant -- both trying to clear the in-field and perishing in the process before Axar Patel smashed a four to take Delhi home.
Earlier, Ishant Sharma was economical upfront but Chris Morris a bit expensive though he sent back Parthiv Patel (9), who slogged hard at a widish delivery and found Sandeep Lamichhane on the boundary ropes.
Young Rabada was introduced to bowl the last over in the Powerpay and he got his national teammate AB de Villiers (17).
Kohli was still there but the runs came only in one and twos. In nine overs, RCB scored just 53. Marcus Stoinis hit only one six in his innings, lofting one from Lamichhane over long-on, in his 15 off 17 balls. He went after Axar Patel too but ended up giving a catch to Rahul Tewatiya.
England all-rounder Ali came to the crease and suddenly batting looked easy. He pulled and drove with ease. Ali spoilt Ishant's figures, hitting him for a six and a four and also dispatched one from Lamichhane to long-off.
The Nepal spinner, though, had him stumped soon on a googly.
Kohli smashed two sixes off Lamichhane, who bowled first one in slot and the second one very short. However, Rabada dismissed the rival captain, Akshdeep Nath and Pawan Negi in one over.