With Sharjah as the venue, one always expects a batsmen-dominated run fest but the script for this match was different. For the first time in this season’s IPL, bowlers have made their presence felt at Sharjah as a total of 18 wickets fell through the day. However in the end it turned out to be a one-sided affair as Delhi bowlers overpowered the RR’s chase by frequent wickets and clean catching.

RR choose to bowl first

Steve Smith won the toss and asked Delhi Capitals to set the target. Delhi lost an early wicket in Dhawan(5) as he flicked an Archer delivery straight to Jaiswal at mid wicket. Archer in his second over removed Shaw(19) too as he top edged the pull off a waist high short of good length ball to be caught by Archer himself. Iyer(22) had hit 4 boundaries and was looking good for more but an unfortunate run out cut his innings short. Pant, who looked a bit out of sorts also got runout for 9-ball 5. Half way through the 20 overs, Delhi had lost the top 4 and with 87 on board.

Hetmyer, Stoinis propel Delhi to 184

Two important knocks brought Delhi back in the game. Stoinis’ 30-ball 39, that had 4 sixes in it and Hetmyer’s even more aggressive 24-ball 45 adorned with 5 sixes and a four. Rahul Tewatia bowled well for RR as he conceded just 20 off his four and got the important wicket of Stoinis- cut to Smith at cover point. Hetmyer was 5 short of his fifty when in an attempt to hit Tyagi for a hat-trick of sixes, he holed out to Tewatia at long on. Axar Patel played a good cameo in the end for his 8-ball 17 that took Delhi to 184/8 in 20 overs. Given the history at Sharjah, it appeared to be a below par score that needed a top quality bowling effort to defend. Archer was the pick of the bowlers for RR, taking 3 wickets for 24 runs in his 4 overs.

Slow start for RR

Rajasthan Royals’ chase never picked up the pace it needed for this target. Buttler started well with a 10-run over from Rabada that included two shots to boundary. But introduction of Ashwin in the third over ended Buttler’s innings as he was caught by Dhawan at square leg. Jaiswal on the other end played quite a few dot balls to begin with. Consequently the required rate climbed two points to 11 from 9 at the start. Smith perished trying to get some quick runs- caught by a forward diving Hetmyer at mid wicket boundary off Nortje.

Frequent fall of wickets

Samson again got out in single digit as he could not clear Hetmyer at long on off Stoinis. Stoinis later removed Jaiswal too with his slower one for 36-ball 34. Ashwin got Lomror and Axar got Tye to take the game further away from RR. With required rate going over 15 there was little hope left amidst regular fall of wickets. There was no miracle this time around from Tewatia as he scored 38(29) and got out in the last over. Rabada cleaned up the lower order to finish with 3/35 and handing his team a massive win by 46 runs.

 Ashwin, for his miserly bowling and taking the crucial wicket of Buttler inside powerplay, was adjudged Man of the Match. This win again takes Delhi Capitals to the top of the table with 5 wins in 6 matches. Also they are closing in on Mumbai Indians on net run rate.