Delhi Capitals (DC) showcased a blistering batting performance, powered by explosive half-centuries from Jake-Fraser McGurk and Abhishek Porel, setting a challenging target of 222 runs for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their IPL fixture at Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Tuesday.
Opting to bat first after losing the toss to RR, DC got off to a flying start with McGurk aggressively dominating the early overs, while Porel provided solid support. McGurk’s onslaught, including an array of boundaries and towering sixes, set the tone for DC’s innings, propelling them to a swift 221/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
The Australian batsman launched a relentless assault on RR bowlers, particularly targeting Trent Boult and Avesh Khan, before eventually falling victim to a high full toss from Ravichandran Ashwin. However, his brisk half-century laid a strong foundation for DC’s innings.
Porel, on the other hand, showcased remarkable resilience and aggression, smashing boundaries and clearing the ropes with ease. His explosive knock, comprising seven fours and three sixes, provided crucial momentum to DC’s innings before he was dismissed by a fine catch from Sandeep Sharma off Ashwin’s bowling.
Despite losing key wickets at regular intervals, DC’s middle order, led by skipper Rishabh Pant and aided by contributions from Tristan Stubbs and Gulbadin Naib, ensured that the scoreboard kept ticking.
Stubbs, in particular, played a pivotal role in the death overs, unleashing a flurry of boundaries to propel DC past the 200-run mark.
Ashwin emerged as the standout performer with the ball for RR, claiming three crucial wickets for 24 runs, while Sandeep Sharma, Boult, and Yuzvendra Chahal chipped in with a wicket each to restrict Delhi’s formidable batting lineup.
With a daunting target of 222 runs to chase, RR face an uphill task in their pursuit of victory, while DC aim to defend their total and bolster their position in the IPL standings.
Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 221/8 (Abhishek Porel 63, Jake Fraser McGurk 50, Ravichandran Ashwin 3/24).
