Mitchell Marsh’s heroics propelled the Delhi Capitals to an eight-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals.
After the victory, the Delhi Capitals are ranked fifth with 12 points from 12 games, while the Rajasthan Royals are ranked third with 14 points from 12 games despite the defeat.
Thanks to Mitchell Marsh’s all-around heroics, the Delhi Capitals came from behind to win the Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets on Wednesday in Navi Mumbai. After their bowlers restricted RR to 160 for six, Marsh’s 62-ball 89 and David Warner’s unbeaten 52 off 41 balls enabled the Capitals to win with 11 balls to play for their sixth game of the season. Marsh had taken two key wickets, Yashasvi Jaiswal (19) and Ravichandran Ashwin (50). Then he smashed seven sixes and five fours to win the night.
Trent Boult, who allowed only one run in his first over, dismissed DC’s Srikar Bharat with the second ball of their innings. Prasidh Krishna produced a maiden over, and then the Kiwi pacer bowled another economical over as DC struggled to drive the tempo early on, reaching five for one in three overs.
Marsh sent the off-spinner over long-off for a six after Ashwin was introduced. Marsh did the same to Prasidh, blasting him for a maximum over fine-leg to give the DC innings a much-needed boost.
Marsh’s willow continued to shine as he smashed Kuldeep Sen for two sixes, and Ashwin received similar treatment when the ball flew over long-on for a maximum, despite Jos Buttler’s effort in the deep. rounder’s
The match was practically in DC’s hands by the time Yuzvendra Chahal broke the 143-run partnership with Marsh’s wicket.
Earlier, star off-spinner Ashwin produced his maiden T20 half-century, striking at a higher rate than most top batsmen. After being assigned to bat first, Ashwin hit a 38-ball 50, while Devdutt Padikkal scored 48 in 30 deliveries. The Capitals got off to a good start when left-arm bowler Chetan Sakariya (2/23), who was filling in for Khaleel Ahmed, removed RR’s top batsman Jos Buttler (7) cheaply in the third over.
Buttler smashed a reasonably full-length delivery straight to Shardul Thakur, who was looking to play it over the infield.
With Buttler out early, DC was in command and ready to demonstrate its supremacy at the DY Patel Sports Complex. In the six power play overs, they gave up very little and held RR to 43 for one. This came after DC captain Rishabh Pant chose against a review despite Sakariya’s strong request for a catch behind in the opening over. Replays validated Pant’s decision to forego a review.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, fresh off his blistering half-century in the previous game, delivered a brilliant on-drive off Anrich Nortje (2/39) and then hammered the South African pacer for a six over the third man. At 19, Jaiswal (19) excelled again, but only for a short time when Mitchell Marsh (2/25) squeezed him up for space with a bouncer, allowing the left-handed Devdutt Padikkal to join Ashwin in the middle. Ashwin moved along smoothly and reached his half-century in 38 balls, looking confident after hitting a few boundaries, including two maximums and a ramp shot over the keeper.
However, the elite off-spinner was dismissed soon after reaching the landmark, and Marsh came back into the attack to give DC the victory.
Meanwhile, as RR attempted to push the pace, Padikkal smacked Axar Patel for two sixes, one over deep backward point and the other over long-on.
Marsh then hit two consecutive fours, while Nortje had RR skipper Sanju Samson (6) caught at mid-wicket by Shardul Thakur. As the DC players celebrated, Kuldeep Yadav was seen limping off the field with his left shoulder bandaged after injuring himself while attempting to catch a ball in the previous over.
Riyan Parag hit Nortje for a six before Sakariya ended his brief stint in the middle. Padikkal followed suit, thanks to a stunning catch in racing by substitute fielder Kamlesh Nagarkoti.
Also, read IPL 2022, MI vs KKR: Kolkata won by 52 runs against Mumbai.
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