ANI
New Delhi
Kuldeep Yadav’s game-changing 17th over combined with Mukesh Kumar taking key wickets at the crucial points kept Delhi Capitals alive in their hunt for a spot in the playoffs following their 20-run win over Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Kuldeep in his 17th over conceded just four runs and picked two wickets which helped DC take advantage in the final moments of the game.
DC scored 53 runs in the final three overs while the Royals managed only 20 runs which played a key role in their defeat and at the same time kept DC’s hopes alive.
While chasing 222, the Royals adopted a similar approach of going berserk in the powerplay despite losing a couple of wickets.
Jos Buttler came in as an impact substitute for the visitors and failed to make much of an impact along with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Jaiswal found the fence on the first ball of the first over but Khaleel Ahmed struck on the next ball to dismiss the young opener.
The World Cup-bound opener’s dismissal introduced Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson who went all guns blazing.
Buttler found two boundaries and tonked a maximum before Axar breached through his defence and dislodged his stumps in the final over of the powerplay.
The Royals skipper went on to forge a 36-run stand with Riyan Parag (27) and then a 59-run stand with Shubham Dubey.
Khaleel bowled four consecutive wides in the 14th over which helped RR maintain the asking rate.
Samson (86) seemed well poised to hit the three-digit mark but Mukesh Kumar dismissed the set batter with Shai Hope taking a sharp catch at the boundary.
With four overs left and Royals 52 runs behind, Shubham struck a six and a four in the first two balls off Khaleel to take the visitors close to the target. Khaleel once again had the last laugh with a short ball to dismiss Shubham (25).
Debutant Donovan Ferreira’s moment to shine was stolen away by Kuldeep Yadav in a game-changing 18th over. The ‘Chinaman’ spinner struck back in the same over by claiming Ravichandran Ashwin’s wicket.
ScorescColor:> Delhi Capitals 221/8 (Abhishek Porel 63, Jake Fraser McGurk 50, Ravichandran Ashwin 3/24) beat Rajasthan Royals 201/8 (Sanju Samson 86, Riyan Parag 27; Kuldeep Yadav 2-25).
