Match 50, Delhi, May 06, 2023, 07:30 PM

187/3(16.4ov)

Delhi Capitals beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 7 wickets

That is it then, from this game and also from another Super Saturday in the Indian T20 League. The action continues on Sunday, the 7th of May with another doubleheader. First, it will be Gujarat taking on Lucknow in Ahmedabad in a high-octane clash and that game will begin at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). This will be followed by a clash between Rajasthan and Hyderabad in Jaipur beginning at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). Our build-up for both of those matches will begin a lot sooner, so, do join us then. Cheers!
Philip Salt is the Player of the Match for his attacking knock of 87 runs from just 45 balls. He says that they had spoken before the game about being positive and adds that he has tried to adopt this style. Mentions that it is his strength that once he gets get going, he does not look to put his foot off the pedal. Shares that they knew the wicket will be slow and low and the talk was about to play off the back foot. Feels that this was a par score. On Mitchell Marsh, he says that he hit his second ball for six and put the pressure back on the bowlers. Ends by saying that there were a few Bangalore fans but he is loving the support here in Delhi.
The Delhi captain, David Warner says it was absolutely amazing and adds that 180 was a par score as it started to come onto the bat nicely and was confident of chasing it down. Mentions that it was their plan to go after the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Josh Hazlewood, in particular Siraj as he is their best bowler and gets wickets in the Powerplay, so they wanted to put him off his line and length. Adds that they have a strong Indian bowling unit and they defended low scores twice in recent times and goes on to applaud a few of the bowlers. Ends by saying that they go to Chennai next and recognizes that it won't be easy but reckons that they have got the balance right now.
The Presentation ceremony...
Rilee Rossouw is next in for a chat. He says that it is a fantastic result and adds that their bowlers bowled alright. Feels that it was an average score on this wicket. Mentions that Philip Salt and David Warner stepped up which was phenomenal. Shares that the whole squad has been supportive of those who aren't playing. Mentions that it was a slow and tricky wicket with the balls gripping in the surface. Ends by saying that they cannot afford to lose any more games which has given them the freedom to play games.
Faf du Plessis, the skipper of Bangalore, starts by saying that 181 was a good score and adds that dew came in the second innings which took the spinners out of the equation. Mentions that Delhi batted well by putting pressure on their spinners which made them change their lengths. Feels that they did not maximize their innings considering the base they had. Also says that 185 was a par score and needed to go over 200. Credits the Delhi batters for batting with intensity in the Powerplay. States that Glenn Maxwell has been doing well and felt the need to send him considering the start. He then applauds Mahipal Lomror for batting the way he did at his position. Ends by saying that on such a slow pitch, it is important to get on top of the game in the first six overs.
Earlier in the game, Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to put runs on the board. The opening pair of Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli yet again led from the front and added on 82 runs for the first wicket before the skipper got out. Kohli went on to score a half-century but failed to up the tempo and got out at the wrong time as well. It was a sensational and quickfire half-century from Mahipal Lomror that provided the impetus Bangalore were looking for and got them to a more than competitive total of 181 runs. For Delhi, Axar Patel bowled a tight spell with Mitchell Marsh proving to be effective yet again and he picked up a couple of wickets. The pacers were a bit on the expensive side but they did decently enough to not concede too many runs in the last couple of overs. Coming to the chase, Delhi had three fifty-plus stands in a row and that made a huge difference as they gunned down the target with 20 balls to spare which will also help their net run rate a lot.
Bangalore never looked like winning after the early onslaught and just failed to pick up wickets at regular intervals. Spearhead Mohammed Siraj had an off day as he was put to the sword by Philip Salt inside the Powerplay and the spinners too couldn't do much in the middle phase. Harshal Patel brought on as the Impact Player did get a crucial wicket in his first over but bowled way too many bad deliveries and was taken to the cleaners as well. The likes of Glenn Maxwell and Wanindu Hasaranga were a bit less expensive but didn't have the wickets to back it up and in the end, it was a deflating loss for Bangalore and they let go of a big chance of solidifying their place in the top four.
Delhi needed 182 runs to win a deck that was on the slower side and the ball wasn't quite coming onto the bat. However, skipper, David Warner and Philip Salt started aggressively and put the opposition pacers under pressure early on. It was the latter who just kept mustering up boundaries and once Warner got out, Mitchell Marsh kept up the ante. Marsh fell after a solid start but Salt got to a half-century and then received ample support from Rilee Rossouw at the other end. The pair put on a quick stand of 52 before Salt departed on 87 but by then they only needed 11 runs. Rossouw finished the game off in style and they got over the line.
Delhi with their fourth win in the last five games and they are still well and truly alive in the competition. It was a comprehensive win in the end for the home side as they chased down a formidable target without much of a fuss.
In over# 17
6
0
1
1
Glenn Maxwell 14/0(1.4)
16.4
6
SIX! THAT'S IT! Rilee Rossouw finishes things off in style! Glenn Maxwell bowls a half-tracker at the stumps, Rilee Rossouw goes back in his crease and dispatches it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. Delhi win by 7 wickets!
16.3
.
Short and on middle, Rilee Rossouw works it straight to mid-wicket for a dot.
16.2
1
Scores level now! Flighted delivery, full and outside off, Axar Patel drives it a bit uppishly towards deep cover for one.
16.1
1
Slower and shorter, around off, Rilee Rossouw pushes it to long on for one more run.
In over# 16
1
1
6
0W
4
1
Karn Sharma 33/1(3)
15.6
1
Short this time and outside off, Rilee Rossouw punches it off the back foot to long off and gets to the other end. Delhi now need 3 more runs.
15.5
1
Bowls it on a yorker length at the stumps, Axar Patel drives this one to long off for one.
15.4
6
SIX! Axar Patel wastes no time and gets off the mark with a biggie! Floated, full and turning into the batter, Axar Patel gets the ball in his slot and does not miss out. Gets down on one knee and smacks it over wide long on for a maximum.