After winning the toss Delhi Capitals opted to ball first, and in the start of 2nd over, a mishap between openers of Rajasthan Royals, Ajinkya Rahane and Sanju Samon resulted in Kasigo Rabada doing a terrific fielding and the run out of Sanju Samson (0 out; 0b), Rajasthan at 5-1 after, 1.1 overs. However, Ajinkya Rahane and Steve Smith kept ticking the scoreboard with 1’s and 2’s. Rahane went on with massive blows, putting up 52 runs in the powerplay. In the 8th over Rahane brings up his 50, and the duo went on with scoring runs, Smith hits a boundary off Amit Mishra in the 11th over bringing up 100 for Rajasthan Royal. They completed 100 runs partnership as well at the end of the 11th over. Both batsmen were set and looking dangerous, as Rahane goes for another maximum, a terrific reverse sweep using the pace of Morris, RR at 129-1 after 12.1 overs. Steve Smith brings up his 50 at the end of 12th over, but at the start of 13th over, Steve Smith (50 out; 32b; 8X4) goes for a six off Axar Patel and tall man Morris taking a brilliant catch at the long-off boundary line, Rajasthan at 135-2 after 13.1 overs. Ben Stokes (8 out; 8b; 1X4) at the crease hits a single boundary off Ishant Sharma’s over but ends his journey at the end of 16th over, mistiming a full toss by Chris Morris, and Shreyas Iyer taking a simple catch at mid-wicket, Rajasthan at 157-3 after, 15.5 overs. Ajinkya Rahane completes his century in the 2nd ball of the 17th over but Aston Turner chips the ball by Ishant Sharma in the 4th ball as Rajasthan scored 165-4 in 17 overs. Stuart Binny hits 2 boundaries in 2 overs and gets Rajasthan to 183-4 after 19 over. Last over by Kagiso Rabada was a splendid one as he ceased 2 wickets of Stuart Binny and Riyan Parag in the final over, restricting Rajasthan Royals from putting up 200 runs on board, and only settling for 191 with the loss of 5 wickets, but Ajinkya Rahane remains unbeaten after 20 overs.
In the 2nd innings, Shikhar Dhawan was taking the lead to chase down the total, with boundaries, and scored 59 runs off the powerplay only, with Aston Turner dropping the catch of Prithvi Shaw at the start of 6th over. Shikhar Dhawan (54 out; 27b; 8X4, 2X6) brings up his 50 in the 7th over. But in the 7th over Delhi Capital lost their 1st wicket, and a big one, Shikhar Dhawan, as he marched down the pitch to hit the ball and completely misses it, as Sanju Samson stumped him, Delhi Capital at 72-1 after 7.3 overs. Captain Shreyas Iyer (4 out; 5b) comes to bat but did not last long as he goes in the very next over as he hit the ball by Riyan Parag, straight to Ben Stokes at deep mid-wicket, DC at 78-2 after 9 overs. However, as Rishab pant came to bat, he took charge of the situation and seemed unstoppable. He brings up his 50 with just 26 balls when Delhi Capitals needed 42 runs more to win from 27 balls. But Prithvi Shaw (42 out; 39; 4X4, 1X6) departed in the 17th over by Shreyas Gopal, Delhi Capital at 162-3 after 17 overs. Sherfane Rutherford’s (11 out; 5b; 1X4, 1X6) cameo of a boundary and a six off 5 balls, added some important runs in the chase, but he too departs leaving Rishab Pant to finish the game, Delhi Capitals needing 17 runs off the final 2 overs. Rishab Pant’s unbeaten 78 off just 36 balls get Delhi Capitals over the victory line with 4 balls to spare.
