RR vs DC: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season has witnessed a unique trend so far: the home team has emerged victorious in all nine matches played. Rajasthan Royals continued this dominance on Thursday, defeating Delhi Capitals by 12 runs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
RR vs DC: Parag Shines with a Match-Winning Knock
The win was primarily built on a brilliant knock by 22-year-old Riyan Parag. After a string of inconsistent performances in previous seasons, Parag finally justified the Royals’ faith in him with a sensational 84 not out off just 45 balls. His knock, studded with seven fours and six sixes, propelled Rajasthan to a respectable total of 185 for five wickets, a significant improvement considering their shaky start of 36 for three in 7.2 overs.
Delhi Capitals Mount a Spirited Reply
Delhi Capitals put up a valiant effort in their chase. Opener David Warner provided a solid foundation with a 49-run knock, but his dismissal by Avesh Khan triggered a mini-collapse. Wickets continued to fall, leaving the onus on Tristan Stubbs to revive the chase. Stubbs played a remarkable innings, scoring an unbeaten 44 runs off just 23 balls, including three sixes, but Avesh Khan’s exceptional bowling in the final over restricted Delhi to 173 for five, sealing the victory for Rajasthan.
Parag’s Innings and Ashwin’s Partnership
Parag’s innings proved to be the turning point for Rajasthan. He meticulously planned his knock, accelerating towards the end with a dominant display against Anrich Nortje in the final over, where he smashed 25 runs, including a towering six. His crucial 54-run partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin (29 runs off 19 balls) for the fourth wicket helped Rajasthan recover from their early slump and lay the groundwork for a competitive total.
Early Setbacks for Rajasthan
Earlier, Delhi Capitals got off to a promising start with Khaleel Ahmed bowling a tight first over, conceding only four runs. He continued to impress, dismissing both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson cheaply. Kuldeep Yadav also chipped in with a crucial wicket, removing Jos Buttler via LBW through the Decision Review System (DRS). These early dismissals put Rajasthan under pressure, but Parag’s heroics ensured they got back on track.
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