NAVI MUMBAI: Building on Mitchell Marsh’s all-around exploits, the Delhi Capitals pieced together their acts at the last moment to edge the Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets and keep their hopes of Wednesday’s IPL playoffs alive.
After their bowlers limited the RR to 160 for six, Marsh’s 62-ball 89 and David Warner’s undefeated 52-of-41 ball helped the Capitals complete the 11-ball task to earn their sixth win of the season, which saw the team on both as well as suffered setbacks off the field, including multiple Covid-19 cases in his camp.
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With the ball, Marsh picked up the two important wickets from Yashasvi Jaiswal (19) and Ravichandran Ashwin (50). He then smashed seven sixes and five fours to emerge as the hero of the night.
DC only lost Srikar Bharat in the second ball of their innings to Trent Boult, who conceded just one run in the first over. This was followed by a maiden over from Prasidh Krishna and then the Kiwi speedster threw another economic over as DC struggled to push the pace early and reached five for one of three overs.

(BCCI/IPL photo)
Introducing Ashwin, Marsh launched the off-spinner via long-off for a six. Marsh did the same with Prasidh, hitting him over the fine leg with a max to give the DC innings some much-needed momentum.
More was to come from Marsh’s pasture when he smashed Kuldeep Sen for two sixes and Ashwin was treated similarly when, despite Jos Buttler’s efforts at depth, the ball sailed long over the maximum and brought the Australian all-rounder fifty.
When Yuzvendra Chahal’s 143 run tally was broken by Marsh’s wicket, the match was almost in DC’s pocket.

(BCCI/IPL photo)
Formerly Premier Off-spinner Ashwin batted better than most top batters and recorded his first half century in T20 cricket. Ashwin made a 38-ball 50 while Devdutt Padikkal hit 48 in 30 deliveries after RR was asked to bat first.
The Capitals got off to a good start when left pacer Chetan Sakariya (2/23), who played the must-win game in place of Khaleel Ahmed, cheaply sacked RR’s top batter Jos Buttler (7) in the third over.
Buttler wanted to play it down infield and hit Shardul Thakur with quite a long delivery.

After Buttler left early, DC were on top, trying to assert their dominance at the DY Patel Sports Complex. They gave away very little, maintaining RR at 43 for one of the six power play overs.
This comes after DC skipper Rishabh Pant opted against a review, despite a strong appeal from Sakariya over a caught deficit in the first over. Replays confirmed Pant was right in choosing not to review.
After his blistering half-century in the previous game, Yashasvi Jaiswal produced a nice on-drive from Anrich Nortje (2/39) and then smashed the South African pacer for a six-in-thirds.

Jaiswal (19) impressed again but not for long as Mitchell Marsh (2/25) spasmed him with a bouncer and paved the way for left-hander Devdutt Padikkal to join Ashwin in the middle.
Looking confident after hitting some limits, including two maxima and a ramp shot over keeper pant, Ashwin followed well and mustered his half-century in 38 balls.
However, the lead off-spinner bailed out shortly after reaching the landmark, and Marsh returned to attack to give DC the breakthrough.
Meanwhile, Padikkal beat Axar Patel for two sixes – one via deep backyard point and one via long-on – as RR tried to push the pace.
Padikkal then scored back-to-back fours ahead of Marsh despite Nortje RR skipper Sanju Samson (6) being caught mid-wicket by Shardul Thakur. As the DC players cheered, Kuldeep Yadav was seen walking off the floor holding onto his left shoulder after injuring himself catching in the previous over.
Riyan Parag found Nortje for a massive six before Sakariya punctuated his brief stay in the middle and Padikkal too followed suit thanks to a brilliant catch run from substitute fielder Kamlesh Nagarkoti.