IPL 2019: Three talking points from DC’s brilliant win over RR
Delhi Capitals claimed the top spot in the IPL points table with a six-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. Boosted by Ajinkya Rahane’s magnificent ton, Royals posted 191/6 in their first innings. Delhi Capitals began the chase confidently, and Rishabh Pant played a scintillating knock to secure the crucial win. Rajasthan Royals’ campaign is now in jeopardy.
With seven wins from their 11 games, DC is leading the points table. The youthful team is brimming with confidence and their performance augurs well for the future of IPL. RR, on the other hand, have fixated themselves in the bottom half. Their chances of qualifying for the playoffs are very slim. Here are three talking points from the crucial clash.
1. Ajinkya Rahane’s century
After a string of disappointing results and poor performances, Rajasthan Royals decided to remove Rahane from the captaincy and handed the reigns to Steve Smith. The World Cup snub was also fresh in memory. Fighting through these lows, Rahane grabbed the limelights yesterday for his stunning knock.
It did not begin too well for the opener. Rahane’s partner Sanju Samson was dismissed at the other end. He himself was also dropped by Ishant Sharma early in the innings. Rahane changed gears after this. He opened up and played shots all around the park. The 30-year old completed his century in only 58 balls, and this was his second IPL hundred. Rahane’s knock included 11 fours and three sixes.
2. Ashton Turner and Olympics
The Australian finisher arrived at the IPL with an impressive reputation based on his Big Bash heroics. His match-winning knock of 84 from 43 balls against India raised expectations. Rajasthan Royals handed him a debut in the match versus Kings XI Punjab at Mohali. He was snared by M Ashwin on the first ball and returned with no score on his name. In the following match, Bumrah trapped him LBW on the first ball. Another duck.
Yesterday, Turner, batting at number five, handed a simple catch to Sherfane Rutherford on the first ball he faced. Ishant Sharma was the bowler. Turner completed the hattrick golden ducks with another zero yesterday. Interestingly, his two innings prior to the IPL were also ducks. Yesterday’s dismissal was Turner’s fifth duck in a row, making up the Olympic symbol.
3. Pant takes DC across winning line
Rishabh Pant will not be going to the World Cup. The young wicketkeeper-batsman impressed with his attacking batting and tore down bowling attacks but his temperament remained an issue. Often, Pant would throw his wicket away when he needed to bat sensibly. Batting after the World Cup snub, the Delhi batsman owned the responsibility of taking the team home.
Coming out to bat after two quick wickets, Pant batted with intent. He kept smashing the ball all around and did not give a chance to RR bowlers. His spectacular innings of 78 from 36 balls helped DC seal the win with four balls remaining.
