Tata IPL 2024 Match 09, RR Vs DC – Match Report

March 29, 2024

Riyan Parag’s impressive innings of 84* runs off 45 balls played a pivotal role in Rajasthan Royals securing their second consecutive victory. This outstanding performance led them to a 12-run victory over Delhi Capitals in Match 9 of TATA IPL 2024 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

Parag’s performance was instrumental in the hosts’ recovery from 36/3, leading them to a competitive total of 185/5. He showcased his batting skills by playing some outstanding strokes on his way to scoring 84 runs off 45 balls.

Key contributors Nandre Burger (2/29) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/19) played pivotal roles in Rajasthan Royals’ bowling attack during the Powerplay and middle overs. Avesh Khan’s exceptional final over, defending 17 runs, secured a thrilling victory for RR.

In their pursuit of 186 runs, Delhi Capitals made a quick start but suffered setbacks as Mitchell Marsh and Ricky Bhui were dismissed during the Powerplay. Warner and Marsh contributed 30 runs in 3.1 overs for the opening partnership before Nandre Burger, an impactful player, dismissed Marsh for 23 runs off 12 balls with a brilliant delivery. Burger then claimed the wicket of Ricky Bhui two balls later with a fiery bouncer.

Warner responded with a counter-attack, smashing three sixes and a four in the next two overs, propelling DC to 59/2 by the end of the Powerplay.

RR had a golden opportunity to dismiss the threatening Warner following a mix-up with Rishabh Pant in the 9th over. However, the chance went begging as the bowler R Ashwin couldn’t collect the throw cleanly, allowing Warner to regain his ground despite the confusion caused by Pant’s call. Warner and Pant combined caution with aggression, adding 67 runs off 45 balls. Nonetheless, their partnership was broken by a moment of brilliance when Sandeep Sharma took a superb catch at short third man off Avesh Khan’s bowling in the 12th over, dismissing Warner for 49 runs off 34 balls.

DC suffered two rapid setbacks when Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Pant caught behind in the 14th over, disrupting their momentum. Subsequently, DC introduced Abishek Porel as the Impact Player, but his innings was short-lived as he was caught at long off off Chahal’s bowling in the 16th over.

Sandeep and Chahal displayed excellent bowling in the middle overs, effectively gaining control for the home team.

Needing 60 runs off 24 balls, Stubbs accelerated the innings by hitting two sixes off Ashwin in the 17th over, adding 19 runs and reducing the required runs to 41 off 18 balls. Avesh bowled an economical 18th over, conceding only 9 runs.

Requiring 32 runs from 12 balls, Stubbs launched a six and a four off the first two deliveries of the penultimate over. However, Sandeep made a strong comeback, allowing only five runs off the remaining four balls in the over.

Requiring 17 runs off the last over, Avesh Khan delivered an exceptional final over, maintaining his composure, executing precise yorkers, and allowing only four singles. This excellent bowling performance secured a 12-run victory for RR.

Tristan Stubbs finished unbeaten on 44 runs from 23 balls, while Axar Patel also remained not out on 15 runs from 13 deliveries.

In the opening moments of the match, Delhi Capitals’ captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and chose to field. This match held significance for Pant as it marked his 100th IPL appearance. To commemorate this milestone, he was honored with a special jersey before the game commenced.

Delhi Capitals made an impressive start, limiting Rajasthan Royals to 31/2 during the Powerplay. The pacers, including Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, and Anrich Nortje, began strongly, maintaining discipline and conceding few runs. RR struggled to find momentum initially, managing only 12/1 in the first three overs. Mukesh Kumar played a crucial role by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal with a superb delivery in the second over, providing a vital breakthrough for Delhi Capitals.

Captain Sanju Samson started his innings with three well-timed boundaries off Mukesh Kumar in the fourth over. Nortje followed with a tight three-run over, which contributed to keeping RR’s scoring rate under control. This period also led to a wicket, with Khaleel dismissing the in-form Sanju Samson caught behind, reducing RR to 31/2 by the end of the first six overs. During the Powerplay, RR only managed to hit four boundaries.

RR faced difficulties in building momentum, and their situation worsened when Kuldeep trapped Jos Buttler LBW after a successful review. To boost their scoring rate, RR promoted R Ashwin up the batting order, who responded by hitting three powerful sixes.

The all-rounder from RR contributed 54 runs from 37 balls in a partnership with Riyan Parag for the fourth wicket, which helped stabilize RR’s innings to some extent. However, he couldn’t convert his start into a big score and was caught at deep mid-wicket off Axar Patel’s bowling, scoring 29 runs in the 14th over.

Parag then assumed control and shifted gears, hitting a six and two fours off Khaleel in the 15th over. He continued his aggressive approach against Mukesh in the next over, adding another four and a six to reach his fifty from just 34 balls.

During this period, DC brought in Abishek Porel as their Impact Player in the 16th over, substituting Khaleel Ahmed, who had completed an impressive spell of 4 overs, conceding 24 runs and taking 1 wicket.

Parag continued to excel and played more impressive shots, scoring 58 runs off his last 19 balls. He partnered with Jurel (20 off 12) and Shimron Hetmyer (14* off 7) to give RR a strong finish, leading to a total of 185/5. Parag’s explosive batting in the final over, where he hit 4, 4, 6, 4, 6 off Nortje, added 25 runs to the scoreboard. RR scored 92/1 in the last six overs, with Parag remaining unbeaten on 84 runs from 45 balls.

RR made a strategic move by introducing Nandre Burger as their Impact Player at the beginning of the second innings, replacing Shimron Hetmyer.

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