On this day in 2021: Chris Morris’ sensational hitting helps RR beat DC
After suffering a loss in the opening match against Delhi Capitals (DC), Rajasthan Royals (RR) needed a victory in their second game in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 edition and they achieved it in style. Chris Morris was the hero for the Royals as he clinched a win for his side with his big-hitting in the last over.
Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals clashed with each other in the seventh match of the 2021 edition on April 15 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to field first. DC’s top order got blown away as pacer Jaydev Unadkat took the first three wickets of openers Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan and no. three batter Ajinkya Rahane. Captain Rishabh Pant came to the rescue of his team as he notched up a half-century.
The Capitals posted 147/8 in their allotted 20 overs with Chris Morris also snaring a scalp. Nicknamed ‘Tipo’, Morris finished with figures of 1/27 in his three-over spell. Chasing 148 for a victory, RR found themselves in huge trouble as they were reduced to 42/5 in 9.2 overs. David Miller scored 62 runs but when the score was 90/6 that’s when Morris came in to bat.
The Protea all-rounder came in the 15th over with still 58 runs needed for his side to clinch a win. He lost his countryman Miller when RR had reached a score of 104/7. The tall South-African then came into the act as he smashed two sixes off Kagiso Rabada in the 19th over and two off Tom Curran in the final over to win an enthralling contest for his side.
He remained unbeaten on 36 runs off just 18 deliveries with four maximums at a strike rate of 200.00 to seal the opening two points for RR. The 2008 champions RR won the match with two balls to spare.
