IPL 2021: Delhi overcome Rajasthan in low-scoring encounter- In Pics

Superb bowling on a slow pitch where batting was difficult helped Delhi Capitals outplay Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs in a low-scoring match and move to the top of the points table in IPL 2021 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday. 

It was the first-day match of the UAE leg of the IPL 2021 and the conditions were tough for the batters, the scorching conditions making batting even more difficult on a pitch on which the ball was not coming on. Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and decided to bowl first, reckoning that the pitch will ease off in the second innings.

But nothing sort of that happened as Delhi Capitals put on a modest 154/6 and then came out to defend it with a lot to spare. Shreyas Iyer top-scored for Delhi with 43 and Shimron Hetmyer, who hit some pleasing boundaries during his short stay at the wicket, contributed a quick 28 as Delhi ended with a small total.

Put into bat, Delhi Capitals, too, got off to a poor start as both openers Shikhar Dhawan (8), who had the Purple Cap at the start of the match for being top scorer, and Prithvi Shaw (10) returning to the dugout with just 21 runs on the board.

With Iyer and Pant trying to cut loose, Rajasthan skipper Samson made an inspired bowling change and brought in left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman. And the Bangladesh pacer broke the dangerous partnership by getting Pant to chop on to his wicket a fullish delivery wide outside the off. Pant got out for a run-a-ball 24 (4x2). Delhi was three down for 83. Iyer too was out soon as Delhi slumped to 90/4 in the 14th over, stumped by Samson off Tewatia.

Chasing a below-par target of 155, Rajasthan could manage only 121 for six in 20 overs, skipper Sanju Samson's unbeaten 70 went in vain as Delhi Capitals' used the conditions brilliantly to score their eighth win in IPL 2021 and moved past Chennai Super Kings to the top of the table with 16 points.