Images from Monday's IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Dubai.
Delhi Capitals came up with a superb all-round display to outclass Royal Challengers Bangalore by 59 runs in their Indian Premier League match, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on Monday.
Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis hammered a blistering 53 and Prithvi Shaw smashed 42 runs to power them to a competitive 196 for 4.
In reply, Virat Kohli’s side lost early wickets and never recovered, as pacer Kagiso Rabada finished with four wickets for 24 runs, including that of the skipper, and Axar Patel (2 for 18) bowled tight and tidy.
Kohli, who was dismissed for 43 off 39 balls, was the top scorer for his side. In the process, he became the first Indian batsman, and the seventh in the world, to surpass 9000 T20 runs.
Following today's victory, Delhi Capitals, with 8 points, reclaimed their position at the top, having lost only one game in the tournament so far.
Royal Challengers, 6 points, are third, behind Mumbai Indians, who also have six.
Chasing a stiff total, the Royal Challengers were never in the game after losing the wickets of the in-form opener Devdutt Padikkal (4), Aaron Finch (13) and AB de Villiers (9) in the Powerplay to Delhi spinners Ashwin (1/26), Axar Patel and pacer Anrich Nortje (2/22).
Finch (13) got three reprieves. First, Rabada put down an easy caught and bowled chance when the Australian ODI and T20 skipper was yet to open his account.
He was again dropped on six by Dhawan, off Nortje.
There was another incident involving Finch as he was caught well outside the crease at the non-striker's end, earning himself a warning from off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
However, the right-handed batsman couldn't capitalise on his chances.
With Royal Challengers reeling at 43 for three, Kohli was joined in the middle by Moeen Ali (11). The duo added 32-runs before Axar broke the stand by getting rid of the England all-rounder.
Rabada then did the rest to clinch an easy victory.
Earlier, invited to bat, Stoinis, dropped on 30 by Yuzvendra Chahal, made Royal Challengers pay dearly for the lapse as he raced to 53 off just 26 balls, hitting two towering sixes and six fours.
Shaw, however, missed what would have been a well-deserved half-century.
Shaw gave the Delhi Capitals a blazing start, hitting three fours off pacer Isuru Udana in the first over of the match. His innings was laced with five boundaries and two maximums.
The opening duo of Shikhar Dhawan (32 off 28-balls) and Shaw put up a 68-run stand and looked to go the distance before the Royal Challengers bowlers staged a splendid comeback.
Mohammed Siraj celebrates with captain Virat Kohli after taking the wicket of Delhi Capitals opener Prithvi Shaw. Photograph: BCCI/IPL
Mohammed Siraj provided the first breakthrough for the team, dismissing the dangerous-looking Shaw.
After Udana accounted for Dhawan, young Devdutt Padikkal pulled off an excellent catch at the boundary to dismiss Delhi Capitals’s in-form skipper Shreyas Iyer (11).
Stoinis and Rishabh Pant (37) then got into the recovery act immediately and put up an 89-run partnership.
Shimron Hetmyer also played a short cameo, the Guyanese hitting a six in the last over.
Siraj (2/34 in 4 overs) was the most impressive Royal Challengers bowler, picking the key wickets off Shaw and Pant.
Navdeep Saini was the most expensive. The pacer went for 18 runs in his third over. He had a rough day, conceding 48 runs in his three overs.
After an expensive first over, Chahal pulled things back but couldn't provide a breakthrough for his team.
Playing in place of Adam Zampa, Moeen Ali (1/21) and Udana (1/40) claimed a wicket each, while Washington Sundar (0/20 in four overs) was the most economical.
