In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, Sharjah has been a batsman’s paradise, and the Delhi Capitals (DC) only managed to set a target of 185 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) still they managed to win the game by 46 runs. In the first innings, a belligerent knock from Shimron Hetmyer helped DC to a decent total and in the second innings, Kagiso Rabada did his magic.
Backing his men, Steve Smith decided to chase after winning the toss, and his bowlers obliged to his decision as Jofra Archer dismissed Shikhar Dhawan cheaply. Things went from bad to worse as the Capitals lost two key men – Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant – of their order to misjudged and uncalculated calls. After suffering back to back blows, DC found themselves reeling at 79 for 4 before Marcus Stoinis (39 off 30) and Shimron Hetmyer (45 off 24) upped the ante.
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Hetmyer slapped two sixes in a row to Kartik Tyagi, who gave away 14 runs in the 16th over, but the latter had the last laugh as Htemyer holed out to long-on, where Rahul Tewatia made no mistake. Eventually, DC reached a respectable total of 184.
Considering that RR has chased down 224 against KXIP, they must have backed themselves to chase 185 down with ease. However, the Capitals’ bowlers had different plans as Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Jos Buttler courtesy of a marvelous catch by Shikhar Dhawan at square leg. With a big gun gone cheaply in the powerplay, things started to look not-so-easy for the Royals.
Youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to get a good start but failed to continue for long and even skipper Steve Smith played a couple of positive strokes, although Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada tightened the noose around both the batsmen to bring them under pressure. A brief partnership between Smith and Jaiswal aside, the middle-order of the Royals looked absolutely bamboozled in front of both the Patels and Stoinis.
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Expectations from Sanju Samson – who lasted only 9 balls – were high, although he handed a simple catch for Hetmyer at long-on after he smacked a length ball of Stoinis in the air, brought down curtains upon him. Rahul Tewatia did show some courage, however, chasing more than 20 an over became out of reach even for him. Wickets kept falling from the other end, and the Royals eventually ended 46 runs short to suffer their fourth straight loss on the trot.
Match Summary:
Delhi Capitals – 184/8 in 20 overs (S Hetmyer: 45, M Stoinis: 39; J Archer: 3/24) defeated Rajasthan Royals – 138 all-out in 19.4 overs (R Tewatia: 38; R Rabada: 3/35, M Stoinis: 2/17) by 46 runs
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
💔💔💔💔💔
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) October 9, 2020
My guys – @DelhiCapitals 🕺🏽
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) October 9, 2020
I guess if you had told @rajasthanroyals that they would be chasing 185 in Sharjah, they would have been very happy. It is something to bowl at for a good @DelhiCapitals bowling side but a team should back itself to get these
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 9, 2020
Tie tie phiss for #RR even at Sharjah 🤦🏻♂️
Well played table toppers @DelhiCapitals#RRvDC— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349) October 9, 2020
Today my man of the match @ashwinravi99 what a spell.. specially in Sharjah on the smallest ground and on this flattest pitch.. well done #Ashwin
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 9, 2020
At Sharjah we got to see bowlers doing well today… #2020 well done #DelhiCapitals #rabada #Ashwin #hetmyer
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 9, 2020
Seems like @rajastharoyals' batting is getting over-dependent on @IamSanjuSamson and @stevesmith49. Another disappointing defeat for them. But @DelhiCapitals is only getting better every game! Seems like the most balanced unit in this @IPL.#IPL2020 #RRvsDC
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) October 9, 2020
Shaw just jumped into Rabada. pic.twitter.com/4LDU0Pf0sl
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 9, 2020
Ok then @DelhiCapitals on top of the table with 5 wins in 6 matches. #IPL2020
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) October 9, 2020
