New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals put on a splendid all-around performance as they beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 55 runs in the first match of the doubleheader in the Indian Premier League on Sunday (April 2). First, Englishman Jos Buttler (124) and Sanju Samson (48) powered Rajasthan to 220/3 in 20 overs at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium before the bowlers restricted Sunrisers on 165/8 in 20 overs.
An all-round effort. Two big points. 😁💗#HallaBol | #RoyalsFamily | #RRvSRH | #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/sbfesYzJnQ
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 2, 2021
Rajsthan despite losing Yeshasvi Jaiswal were in cruise control throughout the innings. Buttler and Samson stitched a 150-run stand, setting up a base for a big score on the board. While Samson left the crease after a breezy 36-ball knock, Buttler, after a slow start went on to score his first-ever IPL century. Every Hyderabad bowler apart from Rashid Khan(1/24) were taken to the cleaners by the Royals batsmen.
Sunrisers in reply, despite getting 57 runs in the powerplay were unable to build on the momentum. A horrendous batting collapse started with both the openers Jonny Bairstow (30) and Manish Pandey (31) going home just after the powerplay. Skipper Kane Williamson too followed suit.
The middle-order was completely unable to cope with the bowling of Chris Morris (3/29) and Mustafizur Rahman (3/20) with the South-African now justifying his heavy price tag. The rest of the bowlers did their job well securing the win of Rajasthan who now stands at fifth in the points table.
In the second game of the day, clinical Delhi Capitals went to the top of the ladder after registering a seven-wicket win over Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Rishabh Pant’s side confidently chased down a target of 167 through an unbeaten Shikhar Dhawan (69) after Mayank Agarwal (99 not out) guided PBKS to 166/6 in 20 overs.
The gloves were off tonight as we conquered the #NorthernDerby in #IPL2021 💙#YehHaiNayiDilli #PBKSvDC pic.twitter.com/2idtciUADq
— Delhi Capitals (Stay Home. Wear Double Masks😷) (@DelhiCapitals) May 2, 2021
Delhi rode on the superb opening stand of 63 between Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw. The youngster was again on the course of a big score but his innings was cut short on 39 by Harpreet Brar. Dhawan continued his superb IPL campaign bringing up his third half-century in the process.
Together with Steve Smith, the southpaw added 48 runs for the second wicket which pretty much sealed the game. Dhawan scored a clinical 47-ball 69 while Shimron Hetmyer put the icing on the cake with four-ball 16 at the end. Harpreet Brar though with his 1/19 was again quite impressive.
Earlier, for Punjab, it was all about the Agarwal show throughout their innings. The PBKS opener fought a lone battle scoring an unbeaten 58-ball 99 amidst the absence of their talisman KL Rahul. Chris Gayle and Dawid Malan both failed to impress before a middle-order collapse restricted them from a big score. Axar Patel(1/21) did his job well while Kagiso Rabada(3/36) despite being a bit expensive was among the pick of the Delhi bowlers.
Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 167/5 in 17.4 overs( Shikhar Dhawan 69 not out, Prithvi Shaw 39; Harpreet Brar 1/19) beat Punjab Kings 166/6 in 20 overs(Mayank Agarwal 99, Dawid Malan 26; Kagiso Rabada 3/36, Axar Patel 1/21) by 55 runs.
Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals 220/3 in 20 overs(Jos Buttler 124, Sanju Samson 48; Rashid Khan 1/24) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 145/8 in 20 overs(Manish Pandey 31, Jonny Bairstow 30; Chris Morris 3/29, Mustafizur Rahman 3/20) by 55 runs.
