(Cricket News) Riyan Parag, the young Indian batter finally came good for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), as he led them to a wonderful victory over the Delhi Capitals. RR defeated the Capitals by 12 runs in a thriller that went until the last over. Avesh Khan was the last over hero for the Royals, nailing yorkers, with 17 runs in the bank.
Opting to bowl, the Delhi Capitals were completely in charge at the halfway mark of the innings. RR lost Jaiswal in the very second over and Buttler struggled at the other end. They further lost two quick wickets in the form of their skipper Samson and Buttler and were reduced to 36 for 3 in 8 overs.
On a night that their big three batters managed 31 off 37 between them, Rajasthan Royals overcame a big conditions handicap through what many feel is the coming of age of Riyan Parag. Parag started of slowly, but ensured to hold one end till the end of the innings. He was 16 off 20 and finished with a match winning 84 off 45 taking RR to 185/5 in their 20 overs.
R Ashwin, who was promoted up the order, broke the shackles with a flurry of boundaries, allowing Parag to settle in according to his own pace. Not only did Ashwin hold out until the ideal point of entry for the bigger hitters, but he also hit DC’s best bowlers, Kuldeep and Anrich Nortje, for three sixes, which released some of the pressure for his side.
Despite of Parag’s exceptional effort, the Delhi Capitals might not have been very worried, chasing 186, with the dew expected later in the game. To their fortune, their openers Warner and Marsh looked threatening and got Delhi off to a good start, but Nandre Burger, Royals’ Impact Player, made dents with the ball picking up two wickets in the very same over and reducing the Capitals to 30/2 inside the first 4 overs.
David Warner managed to keep scoring runs from one end as Pant occupied the other. But then Avesh got Warner out with a full and wide ball. Yuzvendra Chahal then took out two left-hand batters, Risbhabh Pant and Ishan Porel to further worsen the conditions for the for the visitors. Boult dropped Stubbs off Ashwin, that eventually took the game till the last over with Stubbs hitting three sixes and a four off the next six balls.
All the efforts of Stubbs, however went into vein as Sandeep and Avesh held their nerves to nail those yorkers in the last couple of overs, ensuring a 2nd straight win for the Royals and on the contrary, the second loss for the Capitals.
Rajasthan Royals 185 for 5 (Parag 84, Ashwin 29, Axar 1-21, Khaleel 1-24) beat Delhi Capitals 173 for 5 (Warner 49, Stubbs 44*, Chahal 2-19, Burger 2-29) by 12 runs
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