IPL: Daredevil Capitals

While DC went straight to Qualifier 1, RCB made the play-offs after its opponent took more than 17.3 overs to complete the task, helping Virat Kohli’s side to finish the league stage engagements with better net run rate than Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). KKR will need Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to lose against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Tuesday to qualify.

Getting its act together in the nick of time after a two-week winless run, DC chased down a target of 153 with six balls to spare. Opener Shikhar Dhawan (54) and Ajinkya Rahane (64) struck fine half-centuries to power DC to its target after the bowlers dished out a clinical performance and restricted RCB to 152 for seven.

This was a much-needed victory for Capitals after four defeats in a row. Rahane and Dhawan stitched an 88-run partnership after the South African pace duo of Anrich Nortje (3/33) and Kagiso Rabada (2/30) led a fine bowling display. Openers Prithvi Shaw (9) and Dhawan began the chase on an aggressive note, finding the ropes from the very first over.

However, Shaw, who smashed two boundaries, once again departed early. Dhawan found an able ally in Rahane as the two senior batsmen made full use of the field restrictions with the Capitals racing to 53 for one in quick time. Dhawan reached his fifty in style, flicking the ball past short fine for a four.

Shahbaz Ahmed broke the stand by getting rid of Dhawan in the 13th over. Skipper Shreyas Iyer (7) was next to go with Rahane following soon. However, Rishabh Pant (8 not out) and Marcus Stoinis (10 not out) led Delhi to victory with an over to spare.

Earlier, Devdutt Padikkal shone with a half-century. The youngster, who looked in good nick during his stay in the middle, smashed five fours in his 41-ball 50 and shared a 57-run stand with skipper Virat Kohli (29 off 24) for the third wicket.

AB de Villiers (35) was yet again in sublime touch and raised a 33-run stand with Shivam Dube (17 off 11 balls), but the duo couldn’t power Bangalore to a bigger total.

BRIEF SCORES: Royal Challengers Bangalore 152/7 in 20 overs (D Padikkal 50, A Nortje 3/33) lost to Delhi Capitals 154/4 in 19 overs (S Dhawan 54, A Rahane 60)