Parag’s classy knock highlights Royals’ second win
The young batter, in the company of Ashwin, bails out the home team with a responsible, unbeaten 84 before the bowlers rise to the occasion to keep Capitals in check
Home, Sweet Home. So does seem the season’s
theme.
Rajasthan Royals’ 12– run victory over Delhi Capitals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Thursday meant that ‘home’ teams have won the first nine matches of the season.
The Royals’ second win in as many games was built on a brilliant knock by Riyan Parag, the 22yearold who is finally showing why his team had been backing him, all this while, despite a notsoflattering record over the years.
After the ‘playerofthematch’ Parag’s sensational 84 not out (45b, 7x4, 6x6) helped the host reach 185 for five –— quite an improvement from 36 for three in 7.2 overs — Capitals came up with a spirited reply.
Avesh delivers
After taking 19 runs off R. Ashwin in the 17th over, DC needed 17 off the last over. But Avesh Khan bowled superbly to dash the visiting side’s hopes, giving away just four runs; the valiant Tristan Stubbs was stranded on 44 not out (23b, 2x4, 3x6).
Opener David Warner (49, 34b, 5x4, 3x6) had spurred on Capitals’ chase but he fell to a fine catch by Sandeep Sharma off Avesh. DC soon lost captain Rishabh Pant (28, 26b, 2x4, 1x6) to slide to 105 for four.
Earlier, Parag planned his innings in admirable fashion, and finished off in great style, hitting Anrich Nortje for 25 runs in the last over — including a mighty six over deep midwicket.
It was Parag’s fourthwicket stand of 54 with R. Ashwin (29, 19b, 3x6) — a promotion that proved to be smart — which helped Royals recover after a poor start
Khaleel set the tone for Capitals with an excellent first over, in which he gave away just four runs. At the other end, Mukesh angled the ball into Jaiswal, who had to listen to that unpleasant sound of stumps being disturbed, after being hit on the pad first.
Khaleel, who was brought back for the last of the PowerPlay, had captain Sanju Samson caught behind, while Kuldeep Yadav had a reversesweeping Buttler legbefore on DRS.
Royals were in trouble then, but Parag was a determined young man on this night in the Pink City.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS Yashasvi Jaiswal b Mukesh 5 (7b,
Jos Buttler lbw b Kuldeep 11 Sanju Samson c Pant b Khaleel 15 (14b, 3x4), Riyan Parag (not out) 84 (45b, 7x4, 6x6), R. Ashwin c Stubbs b Axar 29 (19b, Dhruv Jurel b Nortje 20
Shimron Hetmyer (not out) 14 Extras (b1, lb1, w5): 7; Total (for five wkts. in 20 overs): 185.
FALL OF WICKETS
19 (Jaiswal, 1.5 overs), 230 (Samson, 5.2), 336 (Buttler, 7.2), 490 (Ashwin, 13.3), 5142 (Jurel, 17.2).
CAPITALS BOWLING Khaleel 40241, Mukesh 40491, Nortje 40481, Axar 40211, Kuldeep 40411.
DELHI CAPITALS
David Warner c Sandeep b Avesh 49 (34b, 5x4, 3x6), Mitchell Marsh b Burger 23 (12b, 5x4), Ricky Bhui c Samson b Burger 0 (2b), Rishabh Pant c Samson b Chahal 28 (26b, 2x4, 1x6), Tristan Stubbs (not out) 44 (23b, 2x4, 3x6), Abishek Porel (Impact Player in place of Khaleel) c Buttler b Chahal 9 (10b), Axar Patel (not out) 15 (13b, 1x4); Extras (lb1, w4): 5; Total (for five wkts. in 20 overs): 173.
FALL OF WICKETS
130 (Marsh, 3.2), 230 (Bhui, 3.4), 397 (Warner, 11.2), 4105 (Pant, 13.1), 5122 (Porel, 15.3).
ROYALS BOWLING
Boult 30290, Burger (Impact Player in place of Hetmyer) 30292, Ashwin 30300, Avesh 40291, Chahal 30192, Sandeep 40360.
Toss: Capitals; PoM: Parag.
RR won by 12 runs.