Delhi beat RCB by 16 runs to secure playoffs berth for first time since 2012
Sherfane Rutherford brilliant batting display in the slog overs and his maiden IPL wicket of Ab de Villiers in the 12th over of Bangalore’s run chase help Delhi Capitals beat Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore by 16 runs to regain top spot in Indian Premier League season 12 points table and secure playoffs berth for the first time since 2012 here at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Sunday.
Batting first after winning toss at tricky Kotla track, Delhi ride on fifties from skipper Shreyas Iyer (52 off 37 balls, 2 fours and 3 sixes) and Man of the Match Shikhar Dhawan (50 off 37 balls, 5 fours and 2 sixes) which was complemented by 20-year old Rutherford’s quick 13-ball 28 runs (1 fours and 3 sixes) in the end to post 187 runs for the loss of 5 wickets.
Chasing 188 runs to win and keep their hopes alive of advancing further in the tournament, Royal Challengers Bangalore were off to a flying start, courtesy Parthiv Patel’s explosive start. The duo of Kohli and Patel made full use of batting powerplay and added 63 runs for the first wicket in 5.5 overs.
Left-hander Wicketkeeper batsman Parthiv was more aggressive of the two at the start and scored 39 runs in just 20 balls to lay a strong foundation for the chase. He was out in the second ball of the sixth over bowled by Kagiso Rabad after Axar Patel took a brilliant catch to send him back to the pavilion.
During his stay at the crease, in-form Patel smashed 7 fours and 1 six. But the big setback for the visitors came in the eighth over bowled by Axar Patel, when in process of trying to go for a big hit, Virat was caught for 23 runs in 17 balls by Sherfane Rutherford. At the time of his dismissal, RCB was 68 for 2 in 7.2 overs.
After that, all eyes were on South African Ab de Villiers to guide RCB to yet another memorable win and keep their hopes alive of making into this year’s playoffs.
But the former South African international too failed to do much and was out in the third ball of 12th over for mere 17 runs in 19 balls. He was caught by Axar off Rutherford.
After his dismissal, RCB’s hopes were almost dashed out and in the next over when Amit Mishra dismissed Heinrich Klaasen (3) and Shivam Dube (24 runs in 16 balls, 2 sixes) in span of four balls, it became a formality for Delhi to win the tie and advance into the knock out stage of the tournament for the first time since 2013.
For Delhi, Purple cap holder Kagiso Rabada (4-0-31-2) and Amit Mishra (4-0-29-2) clinched two wickets each, while Ishant Sharma (40/1), Axar Patel (26/1) and Sherfane Rutherford (6/1) also got a wicket each.
Earlier batting first, Capitals openers Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw added 35 runs in 3.3 overs for the first wicket.
Prithvi was the first to go after hitting 18 runs in 10 balls with 4 boundaries during his short stay at the crease. He was caught by Parthiv Patel behind the wickets.
After Shaw’s departure, skipper Shreyas Iyer joined Dhawan at the crease and the in-form duo keeps the scorecard running by adding singles and doubles.
Delhi completed first 50 runs in 4.5 overs and 100 runs came in 11.3 overs.
But after completing his third consecutive fifty-plus score, Dhawan was sent back to the pavilion by Yuzvendra Chahal ending 68 runs second wicket stand.
After Dhawan’s departure, Rishabh Pant joined the picture and a lot was expected from the young explosive wicket-keeper batsman but he failed to continue his good form into a big score and was out leg before by Chahal in the second last ball of 15th over for 7 runs in as many balls.
At the end 15 over, Delhi was 127 for 3 looking set for 200 par score, with set Shreyas and hard-hitting Colin Ingram at the crease.
But their dismissal in the successive overs cast questions over the reliability of Delhi’s inexperienced middle order. From 127 for 3 in 15 over Delhi was soon reduced to 141-5 at the end of 17th overs.
But then Sherfane Rutherford and Axar Patel came into the picture.
While Axar scored 16 runs in nine balls with the help of 3 fours, Rutherford smashed 3 biggies and one four to provide Delhi that finishing touch which could turn out vital during run chase. They added 46 runs in the last three overs out of which 20 came in the last over bowled by Navdeep Saini.
For Delhi, Chahal picked 2 wickets for 41 runs while Umesh, Washington Sundar, and Saini got a wicket each.