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DC beat RR by 5 wickets | Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals, Highlights And Cricket Score 53th T20 Match - Commentary
Indian Premier League, 2019
Date: May 04, 2019 Start Time: 16:00 IST | 10:30 GMT | 16:00 LocalVenue: Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Venue: Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
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Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals Highlights And Cricket Score 53th Match - T20 Commentary
116 to win. Rahane has his team in a huddle. Can his bowlers produce an inspiring performance? The run chase is about to begin...
Ishant Sharma is caught down for a chat with Matthew Hayden. Ishant says it was a good performance after losing the last game and they just took the positives from there. On the net run rate, Ishant says if they go out and win the game convincingly then they don't need to worry about the run rate. He says they were just looking to play according to the pitch. On his variations Ishant says that it is good that those variations are coming off.
A young guy aged 17 has scored 40 percent of the team's runs. That speaks volumes about his talent. But that also speaks volumes about how poor the batting was. The pitch was difficult to bat on, no doubt but the shot selection was way too poor. Only Riyan Parag showed some patience and skill but he did not get much support.
When a team takes 9 wickets in 120 legal balls, normally, it is a good effort overall. Look at the strike rate - just a shade over 13. And indeed, a look at the scorecard confirms that. Only Axar and Paul were wicketless (if you were to exclude Rutherford who bowled just 5 balls) while only Ishant was expensive. He ended up taking 3 wickets. But the pick of the bowlers was Amit Mishra, whose 3/17 rocked Rajasthan hard. He would have got a hat-trick as well but Trent Boult denied that chance to him.
115...ummm... that is some sort of a total posted by Rajasthan. Cannot say that it is match-winning but this might test the home side. It will be interesting to see the game, if Delhi are indeed stretched.
Trent Boult to Riyan Parag. OUT! Parag holes out but what a knock this has been. He has given his side something to bowl at. Rajasthan were losing wickets from one end but Parag held his end and played a great knock here. Full around off, Parag looks to go over long off but does not time it well and it goes straight to the man there. Sherfane Rutherford settles under it and takes the catch. RAJASTHAN FINISH WITH 115/9 OFF THEIR 20 OVERS.
Trent Boult to Riyan Parag. Wide not signalled. Full and well outside the guidelines outside off, RP has to almost dive and try to hit that but misses. But umpire Ian Gould does not signal a wide, indicating to Parag that he was close to hitting the ball. Boult is lucky.
Trent Boult to Riyan Parag. WIDE. Miles outside off, Riyan lets it go. Pant has to dive to his right to stop the ball.
Trent Boult to Riyan Parag. SIX! Fifty for Riyan Parag. Take a bow young man. He has showed class and maturity and played a gem of a knock. He becomes the youngest batsman to score fifty in the league. It has come at a time his team needed. Full on middle, Parag gets under the ball and heaves it over mid-wicket to get to his milestone.
Trent Boult to Varun Aaron. Full on off, Aaron plays it to long off and gets to the other end.
Trent Boult to Riyan Parag. Good length ball on off, Parag slaps it to long off and gets a single.
Trent Boult to Riyan Parag. SIX! First six in the innings for Parag. Full on off, Parag gets under it and smacks it over long off for a maximum. Not the start Boult would have wanted. Can Rajasthan get to 120 from here?
Trent Boult to bowl the final over.
STAT ALERT - Riyan Parag (when on 36*) - Averages more (his is 36.50) than Rahane (32.75), Samson (34.20), Tripathi (23.50) and Stokes (20.50). Has a better econ (his is 8.23) than Kulkarni (9.57), Stokes (11.22) and Unadkat (10.66). HE'S 17!!!
Sherfane Rutherford to Varun Aaron. Good length ball on off, Aaron strokes it to cover.
Sherfane Rutherford to Varun Aaron. Slower delivery on a length, Aaron swings his bat at it but misses.
Sherfane Rutherford to Riyan Parag. DROPPED! Tough chance though. Good length ball on off, Parag slaps it hard straight back towards the bowler. It goes uppishly towards Rutherford but he cannot grab it and it goes towards mid off after hitting his hand. This time they take a single.
Sherfane Rutherford to Riyan Parag. Full on off, Parag hits it hard but straight to long on. Parag does not take the single though.
Sherfane Rutherford to Varun Aaron. Fuller delivery around off, Aaron strokes it towards cover for a single.
Sherfane Rutherford to continue the pending over.
Keemo Paul is having some issues with his feet. He is in discomfort and his skipper, Shreyas Iyer is having a chat with him. Let's hope he is fine to continue. Nope. PAUL IS WALKING OFF.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. In the air but safe. Full toss on off, Parag hits it over mid on but cannot get under the full toss. The ball falls short of long on and they get a single.
Keemo Paul to bowl the 19th over.
Trent Boult to Varun Aaron. Yorker outside off, Varun looks to drive but misses.
Trent Boult to Riyan Parag. Chipped in the air but lands short. Full on middle, Parag swings it towards long on where the fielder comes running in but the ball lands short. The ball goes off his legs behind but the batsmen are content with just a single.
Trent Boult to Varun Aaron. Works this through square leg for a single.
Trent Boult to Varun Aaron. Outside off, played straight to point.
Varun Aaron is the next man in.
Trent Boult to Ish Sodhi. OUT! Boult gets into the wickets column now. Full length ball on off, Sodhi looks to drive it but the bat turns in his hand. The ball goes towards cover. Amit Mishra, yes Amit Mishra dives sideways to his left and takes a good catch. Yes, Boult dropped a catch when Mishra was on a hat-trick but Mishra does not make that mistake.
Trent Boult to Riyan Parag. Good length ball on off, Parag strokes it to cover and takes a single.
Trent Boult to Riyan Parag. Wide! Has to reload. Good length ball down the leg side, Parag looks to pull it but misses. Wide signalled.
Ishant Sharma to Riyan Parag. On middle and leg, Parag looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. The batsmen scamper through for a single as the ball goes behind the wickets. A run is taken. No signal, so must have been an inside edge.
Trent Boult returns. 2-0-8-0 so far.
Ishant Sharma to Riyan Parag. Very good game awareness from RP. Understands that there are two boundaries which have already been scored in this over, so quietly works it with soft hands through mid-wicket and gets a couple.
Ishant Sharma to Riyan Parag. FOUR MORE! Nice batting from this youngster. A length ball outside off, Parag reaches out and lofts it over cover for a boundary!
Ishant Sharma to Riyan Parag. FOUR! Terrific shot but this is turning out to be an indifferent over from Ishant. 11 from it already. A short ball, down the leg side, Parag swivels and pulls it over short fine leg!
Ishant Sharma to Ish Sodhi. A short ball, outside off, Ish pulls it over mid-wicket for one.
Ishant Sharma to Ish Sodhi. ANOTHER WIDE. Another bonus. Down the leg side again, this is even further than Pant and he cannot cut it off. Trent Boult runs behind from short fine leg and keeps the batsmen to a couple.
Ishant Sharma to Riyan Parag. A wide and a run. A rare little bonus that has geen gifted by Delhi today. A slower ball, down the leg side, Sodhi misses his flick and Pant is not quite able to stop it with the ball bouncing in front of him. He lets it go and the batsmen take a run.
Ishant Sharma to Ish Sodhi. Around middle and off, worked through mid-wicket for a single.
Ishant Sharma again. 3-0-20-3 so far.
Keemo Paul to Ish Sodhi. On middle, pushed down to long on for a run.
What happened there? Paul was already through his run-up but the striker was not ready. Paul has to go back and reload.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. Outside off, Parag mistimes his pull towards long off.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. Outside off, RP mistimes it towards cover.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. WIDE. Teases the guideline, bowls it full but outside the line outside off. Riyan lets it go.
Keemo Paul to Ish Sodhi. Nice shot, but poor running. A short ball, outside off, Sodhi stands tall and pulls it towards wide long on for a run.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. Works this through mid-wicket for a single.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. A short ball outside off, Parag looks to work it across to the leg side but misses and is hit on the pads.
Keemo Paul returns. 2-0-9-0 so far.
Axar Patel to Ish Sodhi. Around off, watchfully pushed towards mid on.
Axar Patel to Ish Sodhi. Fired in outside off, Sodhi looks to run it down to third man but misses.
Axar Patel to Riyan Parag. Full on middle, worked through mid-wicket for one more.
Axar Patel to Ish Sodhi. Around off, worked through mid-wicket for a run.
Axar Patel to Ish Sodhi. Beaten all ends up. Landed outside off, Sodhi plays inside the line and looks to defend but misses.
Axar Patel to Riyan Parag. Short and outside off, cut through point for a single.
STRATEGIC BREAK. Rajasthan are in all sorts of bother. That is an understatement. And poor shot selection is not helping them. This is not a 200-pitch, may not be even a 150. But they at least need to get to 120, don't they?
Amit Mishra to Riyan Parag. A short ball, outside off, Parag pulls it towards long on for a run.
Amit Mishra to Riyan Parag. Full and around off, worked through mid-wicket.
Amit Mishra to Ish Sodhi. Full and around off, Sodhi gets across and looks to paddle but gets a top edge. First slip runs back and tries to catch it, Iyer it is, but he cannot reach the ball. A run taken.
Amit Mishra to Ish Sodhi. Short and outside off, cut straight to point.
Varun Aaron walks in at number 9, replacing Gowtham.
Amit Mishra to Krishnappa Gowtham. OUT! Taken in the deep! Another loose shot from a Rajasthan player. Full and outside off, Gowtham comes down the track and looks to go over the top but is not to the pitch of the ball. Does not connect it at all and finds Ishant Sharma at long off. Third wicket for Mishra.
Amit Mishra to Riyan Parag. Full on middle, heaved through mid-wicket for a single.
Axar Patel to Krishnappa Gowtham. Outside off, driven straight back to the bowler.
Axar Patel to Krishnappa Gowtham. Around middle, pushed back to the bowler.
Axar Patel to Krishnappa Gowtham. FOUR! A rare boundary for the visitors. Short and outside off, Gowtham goes back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
Axar Patel to Riyan Parag. Outside off, punched off the back foot for a run.
Axar Patel to Riyan Parag. The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot.
Axar Patel to Krishnappa Gowtham. Full and outside off, driven through mid off for a single.
Amit Mishra to Riyan Parag. Floated outside off, Parag looks to defend but misses. End of an excellent over from Mishra. 2 wickets and just a run off it. Top class stuff from the leggie.
Amit Mishra to Riyan Parag. Full and around off, watchfully defended.
Amit Mishra to Krishnappa Gowtham. DROPPED! Trent Boult costs Mishra another hat-trick. The spinner has his hands over his head. Full and outside off, Gowtham looks to go for a slog but gets a top edge. The ball goes high in the air and Trent Boult rushes to his left from mid on. But he misjudges it, loses it halfway and in the end, he dives. But drops it.
Krishnappa Gowtham walks in at number 8, replacing Binny.
Amit Mishra to Stuart Binny. OUT! Gone first ball! Pant has taken a nice catch and Binny is gone for a first-baller. Full and outside off, this is the leg spinner, Binny stretches out to defend but the ball takes a thin outside edge behind. Oh boy, Mishy boy is on a hat-trick. How many times have we seen this before in the Indian T20 League?
Stuart Binny walks in at number 7, replacing Gopal.
Amit Mishra to Shreyas Gopal. OUT! Stumped! Half the side is back in the hut for Rajasthan. Mishra gets his first. A really nice tossed up delivery outside off from Mishra. Gopal comes down the track and looks to hit it on the off side but misses. Pant behind the stumps gathers the ball and takes the bails off. Gopal is way down the track and there is no need to go upstairs.
Amit Mishra to Shreyas Gopal. Huge appeal for lbw turned down. Flighted outside off, Gopal looks to play the reverse sweep but does not connect and gets hit on the pads. Mishra asks the question but the umpire is unmoved. It looked like the impact was outside.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. Length ball outside off, Parag flat bats it straight to the man at cover. Another boundary-less over for Rajasthan.
Keemo Paul to Shreyas Gopal. Full on off, Gopal slaps it to long on but gets only a run.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. Full on middle and leg, Parag flicks it to deep mid-wicket and gets to the other end.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. Full on off, Parag taps it back to the bowler.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. Well bowled. Full outside off, it keeps low once again and comes in a bit after pitching. Parag walks down the track and looks to drive it but gets beaten.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. Good length ball on off, it keeps low after pitching. Parag manages to guide it to backward point.
Amit Mishra to Riyan Parag. On the pads, Parag flicks it to square leg and keeps the strike. Rajasthan need a big over.
Amit Mishra to Riyan Parag. Flatter on off, Parag blocks it towards point.
Amit Mishra to Riyan Parag. Straighter outside off, Parag offer no shot to it and lets it go.
Amit Mishra to Shreyas Gopal. Good sweep but just a run. Floated on off, Gopal sweeps it to deep mid-wicket and gets to the other end.
Amit Mishra to Riyan Parag. Tossed up on off, Parag milks it to long off and rotates the strike.
Amit Mishra to Shreyas Gopal. Leg spinner on the pads, Gopal flicks it to fine leg and gets a single.
STRATEGIC BREAK. Clearly, Delhi are on top here. They have scalped four wickets and they will now look to end this budding partnership after the break. Rajasthan meanwhile will be hoping these two can play a big innings here and stabalise their innings.
Keemo Paul to Shreyas Gopal. Length ball outside off, Gopal runs it down to third man and keeps the strike.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. 50 comes up for Rajasthan. They have struggled to reach here but they have got there. These two need to carry on the work now. Good length ball on off, Parag plays it to point to get a single.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. Now a solid defense. Good length ball on the stumps, Parag blocks it with straight bat.
Keemo Paul to Riyan Parag. FOUR! Smacked and smacked hard. Full on off, Parag slaps it past the bowler through mid off for a boundary.
Keemo Paul to Shreyas Gopal. Back of a length ball, Gopal flicks it towards mid-wicket and gets a single.
Keemo Paul to Shreyas Gopal. Starts with an excellent yorker on middle and leg, Gopal cannot do much but just jam it out. He is lucky though as the ball was going back after he jammed it out but missed the leg stump.
Kemo Paul is introduced into the attack.
Amit Mishra to Riyan Parag. Outside off, pushed towards point.
Amit Mishra to Riyan Parag. FOUR! That is absolutely smashed. Full and outside off, Parag reaches out and drags the sweep through mid-wicket.
Amit Mishra to Shreyas Gopal. Floated on off, Gopal strokes it through mid off for a single.
Amit Mishra to Shreyas Gopal. In the air...but safe. Tossed up delivery on middle, Gopal goes for the big sweep. He does not time it well and it falls in no man's land at deep backward square leg for a couple.
Amit Mishra to Riyan Parag. On the pads, Parag tucks it to the on side and gets a single.
Amit Mishra to Shreyas Gopal. Starts with a floated delivery on off, Gopal pushes it towards cover and takes a single.
Amit Mishra is introduced into the attack.
Axar Patel to Shreyas Gopal. Around off, Gopal slaps it to point and keeps the strike.
Axar Patel to Riyan Parag. Shorter on middle and leg, Parag milks it to long on and takes a run.
Axar Patel to Shreyas Gopal. On the pads, Gopal flicks it towards fine leg and rotates the strike.
Axar Patel to Riyan Parag. Shorter on off, Parag punches it to the off side and gets off the mark.
Axar Patel to Riyan Parag. Tossed up on off, Parag blocks it.
Axar Patel to Shreyas Gopal. Shorter around off, Gopal cuts it towards backward point and takes a single. The fielder there dives to his right but cannot stop the single.
Axar Patel into the attack.
Ishant Sharma to Riyan Parag. Good length ball outside off. This one too stays low, Parag does well to stroke it to the man at cover. Rajasthan are 30/4 at the end of Powerplay.
Ishant Sharma to Riyan Parag. Around off, solidly defended.
Ishant Sharma to Riyan Parag. Outside off, punched towards cover.
Ishant Sharma to Riyan Parag. Full and down the leg side, Parag misses his flick. Surprisingly, no wide signalled.
Riyan Parag walks in at number 6, replacing Lomror.
Ishant Sharma to Mahipal Lomror. OUT! Commentator's curse this. Just when I wrote Lomror needs to play a big innings, he departs on the very next ball. Rajasthan are now in deep trouble here. Good length ball outside off, Lomror looks to cut it but gets a thick outside edge to Pant behind the stumps. He takes an easy catch behind the stumps. A very unnecessary shot this from Lomror. He had got the boundary in the previous ball, he should have played himself in. Rajasthan lose their fourth inside the Powerplay and Ishant gets his third.
Ishant Sharma to Mahipal Lomror. FOUR! Full length ball on off, Lomror runs it down fine of third man for a boundary. Rajasthan need him to play a big innings here.
Axar Patel to Shreyas Gopal. Outside off, Gopal cuts it from the stumps towards cover.
Axar Patel to Shreyas Gopal. On the pads, Gopal looks to flick it but gets a feather on it and onto his thigh pads.
Axar Patel to Shreyas Gopal. Tossed up on off, it spins away after pitching. Gopal gets behind it and defends it.
Axar Patel to Shreyas Gopal. Flighted ball on middle and leg, Gopal blocks it.
The new man in is Shreyas Gopal.
Axar Patel to Sanju Samson. OUT! Mix-up and run out! Communication breakdown here. Full and outside off, Samson pushes it towards cover and sets off. Now, initially, he says no. But then Lomror calls him for the run. Now, Samson trusts him and starts running. But Mahipal sells him a dummy down the river and does not run at all! Poor Samson has nowhere to go as he is almost within handshaking distance. Prithvi Shaw returns a direct hit at the striker's end and Pant has nothing to do there.
Axar Patel to Sanju Samson. In the air... safe! This pitch is certainly not the easiest for batting. Full and around middle, Samson looks to go over mid on but the ball comes on slowly, takes the inner half of the bat and lobs over mid-wicket. Deep mid-wicket and mid on get around and Colin Ingram from mid on runs to his right, slides and stops the ball. Two runs taken.
Ishant Sharma to Mahipal Lomror. FOUR! Excellent way to get off the mark. Ishant bowls a poor delivery after the wicket and bowls it on the pads, Lomror flicks it through backward square leg for a boundary.
Mahipal Lomror is the new man in at number 4, replacing Livingstone.
Ishant Sharma to Liam Livingstone. OUT! The off cutter does the trick and Ishant has the last laugh. Good length ball on middle, Ishant rolls his fingers on it before delivering it. Livingstone comes down the track once again to hit it over the bowler but gets beaten by the lack of pace and inward movement on it. He misses and the ball goes onto hit the top of leg stump. Rajasthan lose their second wicket and they are in trouble now.
Ishant Sharma to Liam Livingstone. Back of a length ball on the stumps, Liam blocks it off his back foot.
Ishant Sharma to Liam Livingstone. FOUR! In the air but it falls just wide of the fielder. Good length ball on middle, Livingstone comes down the track and looks to hit it over mid on. But the lack of pace on the ball sees it come off Liam's lower half of the bat. The fielder at mid on dives to his left but cannot get there and it goes past him for a boundary.
Ishant Sharma to Sanju Samson. Back of a length ball on the body, Samson pulls it wide of short fine leg for a single.
Ishant Sharma to Sanju Samson. Outside off, dabbed towards third man. He wants a single but is sent back.
Trent Boult to Sanju Samson. Full on off, Samson strokes it to mid off and takes a quick single to keep the strike.
Trent Boult to Sanju Samson. Length ball outside off Samson taps it to backward point.
Trent Boult to Sanju Samson. Good length ball on middle and leg, Samson looks to pull it but gets an inside edge on to the body which lobs and falls beside the pitch
Trent Boult to Sanju Samson. WIDE! Has to reload that again. Slower one but Boult misses his line and it is down the leg side. Wide signalled.
Trent Boult to Liam Livingstone. SAFE AS A HOUSE. No wonder no one appealed. Full and outside off, Livingstone pushed it towards mid off and set off for a quick single. Shreyas Iyer fielded it at mid off and had a shy at the non-striker's end and hit the stumps down but did not appeal. The umpire referred it upstairs, just to be sure and replays showed that no harm was done.
Direct hit! No one is celebrating and everyone has got to their positions. But the umpire wants to be safe and has referred it upstairs.
Trent Boult to Liam Livingstone. Hmmm... got squared up there. Full and around off, swinging in, Livingstone looked to defend but at the last moment, the ball shaped away and went off the leading edge towards point.
Trent Boult to Sanju Samson. Outside off, on a length, dabbed towards third man for a single.
Sanju Samson walks in at number 3, replacing his captain.
Ishant Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane. OUT! Rahane departs. Ishant strikes in his very first over. The slower ball does the trick. Rahane does not stay long in this must-win battle for Rajasthan. Good length ball on the pads, Rahane looks to flick it but he is early in his shot as it is a 124.8 kph delivery. The ball takes a bit of a top edge and flies to deep square leg. Shikhar Dhawan stationed there takes a good catch coming in. Not the kind of start Rajasthan would have wanted but it is the perfect start for Delhi.
Ishant Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane. Length ball on the stumps, Rahane taps it back to the bowler.
Ishant Sharma to Liam Livingstone. Good length ball on off, this one comes in to Liam. He tucks it to the on side and follows the six with a single.
Ishant Sharma to Liam Livingstone. SIX! First maximum of the innings. Livingstone connects this time and this one goes over the ropes. Full on off, Livingstone comes down the track and heaves it over mid-wicket for a maximum. This will give Livingstone some confidence.
Ishant Sharma to Liam Livingstone. This one keeps low. Pitching outside off on a length, Livingstone looks to once again push it on the off side but misses.
Ishant Sharma to Liam Livingstone. Good start. Length ball outside off, it is keeps straight. Liam looks to run it down to point but misses.
Ishant Sharma to bowl from the other end.
Trent Boult to Liam Livingstone. Tight start from Boult. Just 4 runs off the first over. Length ball on the pads, Liam flicks it to the on side and keeps the strike.
Trent Boult to Liam Livingstone. Good bowling. Cramps the room for Livingstone and bowls it full on middle and leg, Liam pushes it to mid off.
Trent Boult to Liam Livingstone. Length ball around off, Livingstone defends it towards point.
Trent Boult to Ajinkya Rahane. Good length ball outside off, Rahane runs it down to third man for a single.
STAT ALERT - Ajinkya Rahane becomes the first player to feature in 100 League games for the Rajasthan franchise! Can he make this game memorable for him and his team?
Trent Boult to Liam Livingstone. Full around off, Livingstone strokes it towards mid off and takes a quick single. The fielder there misfields which allows them to complete the single with relative ease.
Trent Boult to Ajinkya Rahane. Hint of swing straightaway for Boult. It is on the pads though, Rahane flicks it towards square leg and gets Rajasthan underway.
We are all set for play to begin. The umpires are out in the middle. The Delhi players are in a hurdle before they take their positions in the field. Rajasthan skipper, Ajinkya Rahane and Liam Livingstone walk out to the middle to open the innings. The new ball is in the hands of Trent Boult for Delhi.
Delhi Playing XI - Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Colin Ingram, Sherfane Rutherford, Keemo Paul (IN for Chris Morris), Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma (IN for Jagadeesha Suchith), Trent Boult.
Rajasthan Playing XI - Sanju Samson (WK), Liam Livingstone, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Riyan Parag, Stuart Binny, Mahipal Lomror, Krishnappa Gowtham (IN for Jaydev Unadkat), Shreyas Gopal, Ish Sodhi (IN for Steven Smith), Varun Aaron, Oshane Thomas.
Delhi captain, Shreyas Iyer, says it is an important game and they are gonna think the same way. Adds that the team will play every match as a knockout from here on. Feels that the batsmen love to bat on good bouncy wickets and the pitch here in Delhi has been slow and they did not expect it. However, he hastily adds that they cannot be giving such excuses as they are all professionals. Ends by saying that Keemo Paul and Ishant Sharma come in place of Jagadeesha Suchith and Chris Morris.
Rajasthan skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, says the reason to bat first is because the pitch looks dry and he is not sure how it will play. Feels the pitch might get slow as the game progresses. On captaincy, Jinx says that for him it is just about thinking about the team though feels that Steven Smith would be a good choice to lead the side. Informs Ish Sodhi and Krishnappa Gowtham come in place of Steven Smith and Jaydev Unadkat. He says that the guys playing in the XI have the opportunity and it is just about giving their best.
TOSS - We are all in readiness for the spin of the coin. The two captains and the match referee are ready. Shreyas Iyer flips it up, Heads is the call from Ajinkya Rahane and it comes down as Heads. RAJASTHAN ELECT TO BAT FIRST.
PITCH REPORT - Graeme Swann doing the pitch report observes that there is hardly any blade of grass on it. Predicts that it will be a spinner's paradise. Also says that it is not going to bounce and feels 160 is a defendable total here.
WEATHER - It is May. And it is hot. It is a day game anyway. God help the players in this scorching heat. Forget the pitch, they might just want to bat first just to escape the heat.
Well, the reason we said ignore mathematical computations is because we do not want you to get confused. For instance, if Rajasthan lose, they are out. But if they are in, they need Hyderabad, Punjab and Kolkata to lose! Similarly, if Delhi lose, they will end up in third place. But if they win, they will hope that Mumbai or Chennai lose tomorrow so that the capital side can finish in the top 2! Phew! Is it not better to keep the maths textbook at a home on a Saturday?
Woohoo! Final weekend of the league stage of the Indian T20 League! Into the business end we enter where we still have four teams eyeing for that one spot to make it to the playoffs. One team of those four is playing right now - Rajasthan. A win for them means that they are alive while a win for Delhi means they are in contention for the top 2 spots. Ignore the mathematical computations for now. Let us focus on just cricket. Hello and a warm welcome to Game 53 of the Indian T20 League where Delhi and Rajasthan face off at the Kotla. May the best team win!
Right then! Hey, wait! Where are you going? Not allowed. Just kidding. Match number 54 is about to unfold at the Chinnaswamy. Kohli or Willy? Wouldn't you like to see? Do move over to that game's matchcentre!
AMIT MISHRA HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. on his love affair with the Indian T20 League, Mishra says that he is not happy that missed out on the hat-trick. On his chat with Trent Boult on dropping the catch on the hat-trick ball, Mishy says that he scolded the Kiwi for unnecessarily jumping for the catch, when he could have taken it easily. In response, Amit says that Boult apologized quite a few times. Coming to serious talk, Mishra says that he just focused on keeping things simple and landing the ball in the right areas with the pitch turning so much. Thanks the crowd for its support.
Victorious Delhi captain, Shreyas Iyer, says that the difference between last season and this season is that the players have opened up a lot, having been given plenty of freedom by the support staff. Adds that they don't feel like coaches and that helps. Further says that keeping things simple is their mantra. Praises Ishant Sharma for the consistency he has showed this season. On Dhawan's trading back to Delhi, Iyer says that he will not complain and is happy with the result, also crediting him for keeping the dressing room in splits. Is happy for Amit Mishra who still has something to give to the team and the sport. Finishes by saying that everyone in the team is treated equally. On the team planning to attack the spinners, Shreyas says that either himself or Pant would have been required to go big and he took the responsibility on himself but unfortunately, it did not reap good dividends.
Rishabh Pant is now in for a chat. Says he is always happy whenever he is taking his side home. Adds that it is always special to finish the match but he failed to do so in the last game. Tonight, he is happy to have done that. On the pitch, Rishabh says that it remained the same and the ball always turns in Kotla. Whether they were thinking to go on top with an early finish, Pant says they were looking for it but once they lost early wickets they decided to milk it and get over the line. On the bowlers' performance tonight, Pant feels that it is always easy for spinners when the pace bowlers pick up wickets upfront and today that is what happened. On being asked who he prefers to meet in the playoffs, Pant says that he does not mind who they face as they are just looking to win.
Rajasthan skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, says that they had a tough season this year and reckons that they did not capitalise on the key moments. He feels there were lots of things to learn and hopes to come back stronger next season. On Parag and Gopal, Rahane says that Parag is a great talent and he has played really well despite being so young and on Gopal, Jinx says that he has picked wickets at regular intervals and he had done it last season as well. On his own season, Ajinkya tells that he had a good season and was feeling confident with the bat. Further adds that he always thinks about the team and he has learnt a lot of things from this season.
Earlier in the day, Rajasthan could not make good use of a sticky wicket and trouble Delhi. Too many shots were attempted too soon by the batsmen, not quite showing patience to hang in there and losing the plot. At one stage, even 100 was looking impossible, till a certain Riyan Parag came along and took them to 115. Another 20-30 runs would have been helpful.
SO PROVISIONALLY, DELHI MOVE TO SECOND. RAJASTHAN ARE KNOCKED OUT. If Mumbai beat Punjab tomorrow, Delhi could drop down to third, though if Chennai lose to Punjab by a big margin, they could slip down too. Maths, maths, maths, on a Saturday....ohh... better let the events unfold themselves, aye?
Rajasthan tried their best with the ball. Did not allow Delhi to get off to a flier but this was a track where fast bowlers were not that successful. Aaron and Thomas were expensive while the spin department did not have enough on the board to defend. Sodhi ended with 3 wickets while Gopal continued his excellent 2019 with 2 more wickets.
The good thing for the home side was that run rate was not an issue. Yes, if they wanted to finish in the top 2, they needed to win inside 10 overs but the least they could have done is win the game. It was a track where run-making was not easy and someone had to bide his time on the wicket. Rishabh Pant did that, scoring an unbeaten 53 from 38 balls and taking his team over the line. The others played around him, so the lack of a big partnership did not quite hurt Delhi.
Easy-peasy for Delhi then. They were not chasing a big total but when the openers fell in quick succession, they would have felt some sort of a tremor. The team needed one batsman to bat big and one partnership to be strung and one of the two happened.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. SIX! Game, set and match. Delhi end the league stage with 9 wins. Short and outside off, Pant rocks back and pulls it over wide long on! VICTORY FOR DELHI BY 5 WICKETS AND 23 BALLS TO SPARE.
Ish Sodhi to bowl what could probably be the final over of the game.
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. Outside off, punched through point for a run. SCORES ARE LEVEL NOW.
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. SIX! BLAST! Just 2 more needed. Full and outside off, Pant gets down and mows it into the second tier at long on for half a dozen!
Shreyas Gopal to Axar Patel. Tossed up around off, spinning in, pushed towards cover for a single.
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. The googly, outside off, short in length, slapped through the covers for a single. 9 needed now.
This is sad. STRATEGIC BREAK with 10 runs needed. Axar Patel walks in now.
Shreyas Gopal to Sherfane Rutherford. OUT! Caught. Six previous ball, gone next ball. Tossed up outside off, Rutherford gets down to slog but is not quite to the pitch of the ball. He gets a top edge which goes high in the air. Liam Livingstone has to run back just a bit from mid on and takes the catch comfortably in the end.
Shreyas Gopal to Sherfane Rutherford. SIX! Short ball, outside off, Rutherford pulls it over mid-wicket. The fielder leaps but misses. His knee touches the bottle beyond the ropes but he seems to be fine.
Shreyas Gopal to bowl out. 3-0-6-1 so far.
Varun Aaron to Rishabh Pant. FOUR! BELLIGERENT! Short and wide outside off, Pant slaps it over point and gets a boundary! 100 up for Delhi with 16 from that over. Just 16 more needed now.
Varun Aaron to Rishabh Pant. SIX! Fine leg was in but it wouldn't have mattered. It is turning out to be an expensive over from Aaron - 12 from it already. A short ball, around middle, Pant swivels and just uses the pace of the bowler, helping it over fine leg.
Varun Aaron to Sherfane Rutherford. Hops across and looks to flick but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. The batsmen take a quick single.
Varun Aaron to Rishabh Pant. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a run.
Varun Aaron to Sherfane Rutherford. Outside off, punched off the back foot for a single.
Varun Aaron to Sherfane Rutherford. A better throw would have had Rutherford. Really poor running from the West Indian. Sherfane flicks it through mid-wicket and immediately calls for two. Mahipal Lomror runs as hard as he can to the ball but cannot quite put in the hard yards. It should have been an easy couple but this is where Rutherford commits a schoolboy error. He runs around the bowler while going for the second and that costs him an extra second. However, he is lucky that Lomror's throw is wide to the keeper and he gets in.
Mid-wicket drops back. Fine leg comes in.
Varun Aaron to Sherfane Rutherford. WIDE. Down the leg side, Rutherford misses his flick.
Varun Aaron returns. 1-0-5-0 so far.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Outside off, punched off the back foot. Just 3 runs and a wicket from the over, Sodhi's figures read 3-1-20-3!
Ish Sodhi to Sherfane Rutherford. Goes back and works it through square leg for a single.
Sherfane Rutherford walks in at number 6, replacing Ingram.
Ish Sodhi to Colin Ingram. OUT! Caught! Is there still life in this game? Ingram departs. His sorry tournament continues. Full and around middle and leg, the South African reaches out to sweep. No, it is actually an attempt to lap it around the corner. But the ball hits the glove, lobs up in the air and the moment it hits the glove, Samson appeals for LBW. But Rahane from first slip swiftly moves to his right and takes the catch at leg slip and appeals. Sodhi does not even bother appealing as he is celebrating. Ian Gould respects the appeal from Rahane and raises his finger! Ingram walks back admonishing himself. Just 33 more needed but is this going down to the wire?
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR... SAFE! Pant is lucky not to have thrown it away again. Full and outside off, Pant looks to slog but gets a top edge. The ball is straight up, but it swirls and then lands exactly in between long on and long off! A run scored.
Ish Sodhi to Colin Ingram. Tucks this through fine leg for a single.
Ish Sodhi to Colin Ingram. Full and outside off, Ingram looks to defend but the ball takes the bottom edge and drops down just beside the keeper.
Ish Sodhi is back on. 2-1-17-2 so far.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Colin Ingram. Short and outside off, slapped to deep point for one more. Decent spell from Gowtham - 4-0-16-0.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Rishabh Pant. Yes, no and yes finally. Short and outside off, Pant punches it towards cover. He initially calls for a single but then changes his mind. Reason being, Shreyas Gopal is prowling that region. But then, he fumbles and then Pant calls again for the single and it is completed in the end.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Rishabh Pant. Stays back in his crease this time and blocks.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Rishabh Pant. Full and on middle, pushed back to the bowler.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Colin Ingram. Short and outside off, cut through the covers. Riyan Parag covers good ground to his left from sweeper and keeps the batsmen down to a single.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Rishabh Pant. A short ball, outside off, Pant sits down and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Shreyas Gopal to Colin Ingram. Outside off, played straight to point. A quiet over from Gopal.
Shreyas Gopal to Colin Ingram. Punched off the back foot by the batsman.
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. Gets across his stumps and punches this through mid-wicket for one more.
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. The googly, outside off, Pant lets it go. The ball spins past the wide guideline but umpire Ian Gould does not give it a wide. Lucky Gopal this time.
Shreyas Gopal to Colin Ingram. Outside off, slapped through the covers for a run.
Shreyas Gopal to Colin Ingram. Outside off, punched straight to point.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Colin Ingram. Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for one more.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Colin Ingram. Outside off, Colin looks to cut but gets a thick outside edge which flies towards short third man. Ish Sodhi dives to his right but makes a half-stop. Two runs taken.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Colin Ingram. Full and around off, watchfully pushed towards cover.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Rishabh Pant. Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a run.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Colin Ingram. Punches this uppishly, but wide of the bowler down to long on for a single.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Colin Ingram. Short and outside off, Ingram looks to cut but gets a bottom edge on the bounce to first slip.
Stuart Binny to Colin Ingram. Length ball on the pads, Ingram tucks it away to the on side and keeps the strike.
Stuart Binny to Rishabh Pant. Off cutter on the body, Pant tucks it down towards mid-wicket for another run.
Stuart Binny to Colin Ingram. Once again short in length, Ingram pulls it to deep mid-wicket and gets to the other end.
Stuart Binny to Rishabh Pant. Back of a length ball on the body, Pant pulls it to deep mid-wicket and rotates the strike.
Stuart Binny to Colin Ingram. Good length ball on the pads, Ingram flicks it towards fine leg and gets to the other end.
Stuart Binny to Rishabh Pant. Binny starts with a full length delivery on the pads, Pant strokes it towards mid on and takes a single.
Stuart Binny is introduced into the attack.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Colin Ingram. Floated on off, Ingram pushes it to cover. Just a single off it.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Colin Ingram. Shorter around off, Ingram cuts it but straight to the man at point.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Colin Ingram. Tossed up on middle, Ingram gets on his front foot and defends it.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Colin Ingram. Flatter on off, Ingram defends it off his back foot.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Colin Ingram. Shorter on middle and off, Ingram blocks it.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Rishabh Pant. Floated on off, Pant sweeps it to deep mid-wicket and takes a single.
Krishnappa Gowtham is back into the attack.
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. Full and outside off, driven towards long off for a run more.
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. The googly outside off, Pant looks to push but misses.
Shreyas Gopal to Colin Ingram. Full and outside off, watchfully pushed towards cover for a quick single.
Colin Ingram walks in at number 5, replacing Iyer.
Shreyas Gopal to Shreyas Iyer. OUT! Iyer holes out. Gopal gets his first. Loopy delivery on middle, Shreyas looks to go over long on against the turn. He does not time it well and it goes straight to the man over there. Liam Livingstone hardly moves an inch and takes a very comfortable catch. Shreyas Iyer has to depart and he will be gutted with himself. He was looking very good out in the middle but cannot see his side over the line.
Shreyas Gopal to Shreyas Iyer. Full and outside off, pushed straight to cover.
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. A short ball, outside off, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Change of ends for Gopal. 1-0-1-0 so far.
Riyan Parag to Rishabh Pant. Floated on off, Pant guides it towards cover and keeps the strike.
Riyan Parag to Rishabh Pant. Flighted on off, Pant strokes it straight to the man at point.
Riyan Parag to Rishabh Pant. SIX! This is not off the middle but the power of Pant sees it take it over the ropes. Slightly shorter in length, Rishabh goes for the heave but does not time it well over mid-wicket for another six.
Riyan Parag to Rishabh Pant. SIX! That is some hit from Pant. Flighted on middle, Pant gets down on one knee and slog sweeps it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum.
Riyan Parag to Rishabh Pant. Straight outside off, Pant shoulders arms to it.
Riyan Parag to Shreyas Iyer. Parag starts with a full ball on the pads, Shreyas tucks it away to the on side and gets a single.
Riyan Parag comes on to bowl now. Was Rajasthan's shining star with the bat earlier on. Can he produce something similar with the ball?
STRATEGIC BREAK. A bit of nervous breakdown for Delhi losing those 2 wickets but other than that, they seem pretty comfortable in this chase. Their batting is stronger than Rajasthan as well, so that will boost their confidence. They need to win in 10 overs to go on top but that might not be possible. But they might aim to get those 2 points.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. FOUR! What a way to get off the mark. After blocking the first 9 balls. A short ball outside off, Pant gets on his back foot and slaps it through covers for a boundary. 17 off the over. Not the follow up Sodhi would have wanted after his double-wicket maiden.
Ish Sodhi to Shreyas Iyer. On the pads, Iyer flicks it away to the on side and gets a single.
Ish Sodhi to Shreyas Iyer. Flatter on middle, Shreyas pushes it to mid on.
Ish Sodhi to Shreyas Iyer. SIX! Two in two. The Delhi skipper is going after Sodhi here. Flighted outside off, Iyer smokes it over long off once again for another biggie.
STAT ALERT - The lowest score ever defended in the Indian T20 League is 116, by Chennai against Punjab in 2009. Will we see a new record being set?
Ish Sodhi to Shreyas Iyer. SIX! Brilliant shot. Flighted on off, Iyer gets on his front foot and heaves it over the long off fence for a maximum.
Ish Sodhi to Shreyas Iyer. Too close to cut but Iyer does manage to do so. Short around off, Shreyas cuts it to backward point.
STAT ALERT - Sodhi's double wicket maiden was just the second instance in this season!
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. Quicker on off, Pant does not take any risk and blocks it. Good start for Gopal too. Just a single off it.
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. Full and around off, watchfully defended.
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. Short and outside off, cut through point where Varun Aaron dives to his right and makes a diving stop.
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. Outside off, punched off the back foot.
Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant. Around middle and leg, worked towards square leg.
Shreyas Gopal to Shreyas Iyer. A short ball, down the leg side, the googly first up, pulled towards backward square leg for a single.
Shreyas Gopal time.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Yes, he can finish with a double wicket maiden. Shorter on middle and off, Pant gets on his back foot and blocks it to see off Ish Sodhi.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. 2 wickets followed by three dots. Can Sodhi finish his first with a maiden? This is slower through the air on middle, Pant calmly blocks it.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. Flighted on middle and off, Pant sweeps it straight to the fielder at square leg.
Ish Sodhi to Rishabh Pant. No, he cannot. Tossed on off, Pant looks to defend it but gets a leading edge which falls at cover.
Rishabh Pant is the next batsman in to face the hat-trick ball.
Ish Sodhi to Prithvi Shaw. OUT! Sodhi on a hat-trick. Is this the twist in the tale? Shorter in length, turning away from Shaw. Prithvi looks to cut it but he is too close to the ball. He goes for it and ends up chopping onto the leg stump. Rajasthan are back in it. Can Ish Sodhi do what Mishra could not?
Shreyas Iyer is the next batsman in.
Ish Sodhi to Shikhar Dhawan. OUT! Sodhi strikes on his very first ball. The dangerous Dhawan is out of here. That wicket though is as much as Parag's as it is of Sodhi's. Parag has taken a good catch. Floated on middle and leg, Dhawan comes down the track and looks to go over mid on. He does not time it well at all. Riyan Parag runs behind from mid on and takes a good catch.
Ish Sodhi into the attack.
Oshane Thomas to Prithvi Shaw. FOUR! 13 runs off the over. A very expensive start for Thomas. Good length ball on the pads, Shaw flicks it wide of short fine leg for a boundary. Delhi are off to a flyer.
Oshane Thomas to Prithvi Shaw. Around off, Shaw punches it to the man at cover.
Oshane Thomas to Shikhar Dhawan. Length ball on off, Dhawan taps it wide of mid off and gets a single.
Oshane Thomas to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful. Good length ball on off, Dhawan gets on top of it and drives it elegantly through covers for a boundary. He holds the pose for the cameras.
Oshane Thomas to Shikhar Dhawan. Better from Thomas. Good length ball on the stumps, Dhawan taps it back to the bowler.
Oshane Thomas to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Not the start Thomas would have wanted. Short and wide outside off, Dhawan slaps it over his favorite point region for a boundary. He looks in the mood today.
Oshane Thomas is into the attack.
Varun Aaron to Prithvi Shaw. Good length ball on off, Shaw pushes it to the man at cover.
Varun Aaron to Shikhar Dhawan. Full again this time on middle and leg, Dhawan tucks it to the on side and gets a single.
Varun Aaron to Shikhar Dhawan. Full on middle and leg, Dhawan flicks it wide of deep square leg for a couple.
Varun Aaron to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR LEG BYES! Full on the pads, Dhawan looks to flick but misses and the ball flicks his pad and goes wide of the keeper and into the fence.
Varun Aaron to Prithvi Shaw. Length ball on middle, Shaw calmly flicks it to deep mid-wicket and takes an easy single.
Varun Aaron to Shikhar Dhawan. Aaron starts with a good length ball on off, Dhawan punches it to long off and gets to the other end.
Varun Aaron to bowl from the other end.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Shikhar Dhawan. Short on middle and off, Dhawan nudges it towards mid on and keeps the strike. 6 singles off the first.
Shikhar Dhawan is having some issue with his gloves and he is asking them to be replaced. That's why there is a slight delay in play.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Prithvi Shaw. Short on off, Shaw punches it to the off side and rotates the strike.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Shikhar Dhawan. Tossed up on leg, Dhawan gets on one knee and sweeps it towards deep square leg for another run.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Prithvi Shaw. On the pads, Shaw nudges it towards mid-wicket and rotates the strike.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Shikhar Dhawan. Short on the pads, Dhawan gets off the mark with a flick to deep square leg.
Krishnappa Gowtham to Prithvi Shaw. The chase is underway. Short on middle and leg, Shaw strokes it to long on and gets a single.
We are back for the chase. The Rajasthan players are out in the middle. Out walk the opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw for Delhi. Krishnappa Gowtham to start the proceedings for Rajasthan.