| 0.0 : Smile. You are in Sharjah. This is the general quote given to people who visit that place. Batsmen will definitely smile. But can the same be said about the bowlers? Flat pitch. Small ground dimensions. Powerful batsmen with destructive willows. How can you smile? But you, as a viewer can. Because we are at a venue where the ball will fly multiple times beyond the boundary. Hello and a warm welcome to game 23 of the Indian T20 League, 2020 between Rajasthan and Delhi. |
| Just 60 minutes before the mega-action kicks off in Sharjah. Yes, we say mega-action not just because of the shorter dimensions as stressed upon earlier, but also because of the batting firepower present in both sides. Delhi and Rajasthan both pack a punch and the ground only aids their batters further. For the bowlers, well, good luck is all we can say. But don't be worried, take a cue from how Mumbai curtailed Hyderabad earlier. |
| Pitch report - Michael Slater is there for the pitch report. He is joined by Kevin Pietersen. Kevin says that the pitch has not changed much and it is hard and flat. Adds that the batters should back themselves. Slater says that the bowlers should look to take pace off the ball. Slater says that they have got a big, big game ahead. |
| Rajasthan's bowling has not seemed to click, with the exception of Jofra Archer. They will need to make some more changes to find their best eleven. May be, get Andrew Tye in for this game, in place of Tom Curran, who has not been at his best this season. While that might affect the batting a touch, it is worth a go on a batsman's paradise, right? |
| Delhi, on the other hand, are completely contrasting to their counterparts as they have been in fine form winning 4 out of their 5 games. The batting looks in terrific shape, with everyone chipping in. Their bowling might be shuffled a bit though, as this game is taking place in Sharjah, a batsman's paradise. |
| Axar Patel might be dropped for this game and since Amit Mishra is not available, Ishant Sharma might be thrown into the mix. Rabada and Nortje have been in supreme form and will look to continue the same. Delhi look like the team to beat in this tournament and it will be a big mental boost for Rajasthan if they beat this team. An exciting clash awaits. |
| Rajasthan will be worried, especially if they bat first. They have some terrible woes with their bowling with no one barring Jofra Archer putting his hand up. Not the same so for Delhi. They are a confident bunch and they will be positive that they can do well. But given a choice, they will prefer chasing! |
| There is some movement in the Rajasthan camp as Andrew Tye has received his cap from Jofra Archer. We can confirm one change then for Rajasthan. |
| Delhi (Unchanged Playing XI) - Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje. |
| Shreyas Iyer, the Delhi skipper, says that there will be a little bit of turn but this is Sharjah and anything can happen. Adds that they are playing the same team. States that all the players are looking to cement their places in the team. Goes onto say both batting and bowling are working for them. |
| TOSS - Rajasthan win the toss and they have elected to field first. |
| Steven Smith, the Rajasthan skipper,  says that they will bowl first. Adds that all the games here have been high-scoring. States that this is a good pitch and hopes that they chase the score down. Goes onto say that they have not been good in the Powerplay. Says that they need to bat better in the Powerplay! Informs they are making 2 changes as Ankit Rajpoot and Tom Curran go out for Varun Aaron and Andrew Tye.  |
| Rajasthan (Playing XI) - Jos Buttler (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Steven Smith (C), Sanju Samson, Mahipal Lomror, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Andrew Tye (IN PLACE OF TOM CURRAN), Shreyas Gopal, Varun Aaron (IN PLACE OF ANKIT RAJPOOT), Kartik Tyagi. |
| All set to begin then! The umpires make their way out to the middle. The Rajasthan players are in a huddle and then take their respective positions on the field. Right hand, left hand opening combination for Delhi, Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan. Varun Aaron who is playing his first game in this edition with the ball first up. 3..2..1...Let's play... |
| 0.1 : Varun Aaron to Prithvi Shaw, Aaron starts with a good length ball on off, Shaw defends it to point off the front foot. |
| 0.2 : Varun Aaron to Prithvi Shaw, Shaw is underway in a streaky manner! Full ball on the pads, Shaw looks to flick but gets a leading edge which goes over the bowler and past the mid on fielder. Only a single. |
| 0.3 : Varun Aaron to Shikhar Dhawan, Good length ball on the pads, Dhawan looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads. |
| 0.4 : Varun Aaron to Shikhar Dhawan, Dhawan is off the mark! Good length ball outside off, Dhawan guides it to third man for a single. |
| 0.5 : Varun Aaron to Prithvi Shaw, Short ball around the pads, Shaw looks to pull but it takes the gloves and lobs to deep square leg for a single. |
| 0.6 : Varun Aaron to Shikhar Dhawan, FOUR! Good end to the first over for Delhi! Poor ball from Varun Aaron! Slower ball onto the pads, Dhawan flicks it towards the deep square leg region for a boundary. |
| Jofra Archer will bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : Jofra Archer to Prithvi Shaw, FOUR! What a way to welcome Jofra Archer! Archer is under pressure straightaway! Fullish ball outside off, Shaw lunges forward and creams the drive through the covers for a boundary. |
| 1.2 : Jofra Archer to Prithvi Shaw, Length ball on off, Shaw defends it to the point region and crosses over for a single. |
| 1.3 : Jofra Archer to Shikhar Dhawan, OUT! CAUGHT! There's the first wicket for Jofra Archer in the Powerplay this season! This was not a wicket-taking delivery but he won't mind as Dhawan gifts his wicket away. Shikhar Dhawan has not got going in this tournament and he fails yet again.Good length ball on the pads, Dhawan flicks but it is uppish and goes straight to Yashasvi Jaiswal at mid-wicket. Good start from Jofra Archer. |
| 1.4 : Jofra Archer to Shreyas Iyer, Excellent delivery first up to Iyer! Bouncer around off, Iyer watches it carefully and sways away from it. |
| 1.5 : Jofra Archer to Shreyas Iyer, Length ball on middle, Iyer flicks it to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 1.6 : Jofra Archer to Prithvi Shaw, Bouncer around off, Shaw looks to play at it but misses. |
| 2.1 : Varun Aaron to Shreyas Iyer, Good length ball on middle, Iyer defends it back to the bowler. |
| 2.2 : Varun Aaron to Shreyas Iyer, Iyer got back in time! Good length ball on off, Iyer taps it to cover and takes off for a single. Shaw is not interested and sends him back. The fielder has a shy at the stumps at the keeper's end but misses. Iyer would have been in though. |
| 2.3 : Varun Aaron to Shreyas Iyer, NO BALL AND FOUR! This was not a bad delivery but excellent batting from Iyer. Back of a length ball outside off, Iyer makes room and then cuts it through cover-point for a boundary. A Free Hit will follow. |
| Varun Aaron to Shreyas Iyer, FOUR! Iyer makes use of the Free Hit! Short ball around middle, Iyer rocks on his back foot and then pulls it to the deep mid-wicket region for another boundary. |
| 2.4 : Varun Aaron to Shreyas Iyer, Length ball on off, Iyer pushes it to cover for a single. |
| 2.5 : Varun Aaron to Prithvi Shaw, DROPPED! Karthik Tyagi overruns it and a chance goes begging! Badly misjudged by the youngster! Short ball on middle, Shaw looks to pull but gets a top edge which goes towards fine leg. Tyagi runs across but overruns it and he fails to hold on. Poor fielding. Two taken. |
| 2.6 : Varun Aaron to Prithvi Shaw, SIX! That's adding insult to injury! What a response from Shaw! Good length ball on middle, Shaw smacks it over the bowler's head for a maximum. |
| 3.1 : Kartik Tyagi to Shreyas Iyer, Full ball on middle, flicked to mid-wicket. |
| 3.2 : Kartik Tyagi to Shreyas Iyer, BEATEN! Lovely seam position from Kartik. Bowls a length delivery outside off, Shreyas looked to guide it towards third man but fails to make connection. |
| 3.3 : Kartik Tyagi to Shreyas Iyer, Good shot but just a couple. Fullish and outside off, Iyer thrashes it through covers. Lomror, at sweeper cover, runs to his right and collects it. A couple taken. |
| 3.4 : Kartik Tyagi to Shreyas Iyer, EDGY FOUR! He is bowling outside off because of the protection available on the off side but not sure if it is going as per the plan. Fullish, outside off, Iyer throws the kitchen sink at it. It comes off a thick outside edge and goes over short third man for a boundary. |
| 3.5 : Kartik Tyagi to Shreyas Iyer, Bouncer, outside off, Iyer sways away from it. |
| 3.6 : Kartik Tyagi to Shreyas Iyer, WIDE! A wide bouncer outside off, Iyer looked to go after it but misses. Wide called. |
| Kartik Tyagi to Shreyas Iyer, Length ball, dabbed to Tewatia at point. |
| Jofra Archer is back on. 1-0-6-1 are his figures so far. |
| 4.1 : Jofra Archer to Prithvi Shaw, FOUR! Pulled away nicely! Short ball around middle, Shaw gets into position quickly and then pulls it to the deep mid-wicket region for a boundary. |
| 0.0 : Shreyas Iyer is the next man in. |
| 4.2 : Jofra Archer to Prithvi Shaw, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Archer has the last laugh and this is a super, super catch from the speedster. Shaw will be disappointed with that as he was looking good and he needed to make use of the opportunity. He got dropped earlier but not this time. Short ball from Archer, Shaw looks to pull but gets a top edge and it goes way up in the air towards square leg. Archer calls for it and then tumbles to take a very good catch. Rajasthan have taken two in the Po |
| 4.3 : Jofra Archer to Shreyas Iyer, Good length ball on off, Iyer defends it to the off side for a single. |
| 4.4 : Jofra Archer to Rishabh Pant, Fullish ball on off, Pant defends it to cover. |
| 4.5 : Jofra Archer to Rishabh Pant, On off, defended out onto the pitch. |
| 4.6 : Jofra Archer to Rishabh Pant, Short ball around middle, Pant ducks under it. Excellent over from Jofra Archer. Just 5 from the over and a wicket. |
| 5.1 : Andrew Tye to Shreyas Iyer, Full ball on off, Iyer pushes it to cover. |
| 0.0 : Andrew Tye is on now. Bowling his first over in this season. |
| 5.2 : Andrew Tye to Shreyas Iyer, FOUR! Beautiful shot from Shreyas Iyer! Quality shot! Back of a length ball outside off, Iyer drives it through covers for a boundary. |
| 5.3 : Andrew Tye to Shreyas Iyer, Full ball on middle, Iyer flicks it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 5.4 : Andrew Tye to Rishabh Pant, WIDE! Too high! Short ball around middle, Pant ducks under it. Wided. |
| Andrew Tye to Rishabh Pant, Full ball outside off, Pant plays it to deep point for a single. |
| A run out appeal has been taken upstairs! It looks like Shreyas Iyer has to go and the replays show that he is out of his crease! Brilliant piece of work. |
| 5.5 : Andrew Tye to Shreyas Iyer, OUT! RUN OUT! What an excellent piece of fielding! Shreyas Iyer will rue it as he was in good form and will be disappointed. This though is brilliant work from Yashasvi Jaiswal! He was involved in a catch earlier on and now is into the thick of things with a run out. Good length ball on off, Iyer pushes it wide of the cover fielder. Iyer takes off for a single but then sees that Jaiswal has dived to make the stop. Iyer turns back while Jaiswal has a shy at the |
| Marcus Stoinis makes his way out to the middle. |
| 5.6 : Andrew Tye to Marcus Stoinis, On a length outside off, Stoinis pushes it to the off side for a single. Delhi are 51 for 3 at the end of the Powerplay. |
| Spin time now as Shreyas Gopal has been introduced into the attack. Stoinis is a shaky starter against spin. |
| 6.1 : Shreyas Gopal to Marcus Stoinis, Flatter on middle, Stoinis rocks back and flicks it to mid-wicket. |
| 6.2 : Shreyas Gopal to Marcus Stoinis, Floated outside off, Stoinis leans and pushes it through covers for a single. |
| 6.3 : Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant, Flat and well outside off, Gopal gets away there. Pant cuts but finds deep extra cover. Just the single. |
| 6.4 : Shreyas Gopal to Marcus Stoinis, SIX! He is a strong man, Stoinis. Flatter ball, he rocks back just like in the first ball. This time though, he powers it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. |
| 6.5 : Shreyas Gopal to Marcus Stoinis, SIX! Not good bowling from Gopal, going short again. Marcus goes back and pulls this over mid-wicket. It was a flat six. |
| 6.6 : Shreyas Gopal to Marcus Stoinis, Short ball again, Stoinis pulls but this time straight to mid-wicket. A single to finish. 15 off Gopal's first over. |
| Spin from both ends. Rahul Tewatia into the attack now. |
| 7.1 : Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, On the shorter side outside off, eased through covers for a single. |
| 7.2 : Rahul Tewatia to Rishabh Pant, Shortish, outside off, just within the guideline. Pant lets it be thinking it would be wided but it was not to be. |
| 7.3 : Rahul Tewatia to Rishabh Pant, Almost a chop on! Rajasthan almost had another wicket. Flat ball, outside off, Pant looks to cut but gets a bottom edge. It goes through though, safely past the stumps and the keeper and a single is pinched in. |
| 7.4 : Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, Stoinis works this to the man at short mid-wicket for a dot. |
| 7.5 : Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, Leading edge there. Flatter and around middle and leg, Stoinis looked to work that on the leg side but gets a leading edge to Smith at cover. 3 dots in a row now. |
| 7.6 : Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, WIDE! Slips one down the leg side, Stoinis lets it be. Wided. |
| Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, Around off, short, dabbed to mid on for a single. |
| DRINKS! Not the start Delhi would have hoped for, especially in Sharjah. The big hitters, Shaw and their skipper, Iyer, have been sent back to the hut with minimal damage. However, Pant and Stoinis are dangerous bludgeoners as well. For now, they would look to play carefully, cashing in on the loose deliveries. Once set, it will be bang bang, especially, they are not going to miss out at Sharjah. |
| 8.1 : Shreyas Gopal to Marcus Stoinis, Confusion again, for Delhi! Shorter ball on middle and leg, Stoinis tucks it towards Yashasvi at mid on. He looked for a single, Pant responded. Some dilly-dallying and they decide just about rightly to not take one. |
| 8.2 : Shreyas Gopal to Marcus Stoinis, Fuller, outside off, driven to cover. |
| 8.3 : Shreyas Gopal to Marcus Stoinis, SIX! Up, up and away! Full ball outside off, the opportunity to free the arms. Stoinis does so and powers this over wide long off. |
| 8.4 : Shreyas Gopal to Marcus Stoinis, Brilliant fielding from Gopal. Shorter ball outside off, Stoinis pushes it to the left of Gopal. The bowler dives and intercepts that. |
| 8.5 : Shreyas Gopal to Marcus Stoinis, On the shorter side, bunted down to long on for one. |
| 8.6 : Shreyas Gopal to Rishabh Pant, A single to finish as the shorter ball is worked through covers for one. Keeping it short throughout, Gopal. |
| 9.1 : Rahul Tewatia to Rishabh Pant, Short and wide from Tewatia, cut to deep point for a single. Both the spinners are dragging back their length here. |
| 9.2 : Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, OUT! RUN OUT! Again, confusion between the two Delhi batters. What is happening here? Floated around off and middle, Stoinis tucks it towards mid on. Pant does not look at Stoinis. He takes off, Stoinis then shouts a loud no. But it is all too late. The substitute fielder throws the ball at the bowler's end and Tewatia whips the bails off. Pant is a goner. |
| Shimron Hetmyer walks out to the middle now. |
| 9.3 : Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, SIX! Good response from Marcus Stoinis! Floated ball around off, Stoinis whacks it over long off for a biggie. |
| 9.4 : Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, Stoinis drives this to long off and takes a single. |
| 9.5 : Rahul Tewatia to Shimron Hetmyer, Hetmyer works the flatter ball through covers and takes a single to get off the mark. |
| 9.6 : Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, Edgy! Flatter around middle and leg, Stoinis looked to flick but it comes off the leading edge and goes to the man at cover. |
| 10.1 : Kartik Tyagi to Shimron Hetmyer, Shimron Hetmyer works this to square leg. Wants two but just the single as these are shorter boundaries. |
| 0.0 : Kartik Tyagi is into the attack now. |
| 10.2 : Kartik Tyagi to Marcus Stoinis, Catch it is the shout....but it falls safe. Short ball, Stoinis pulls it towards mid-wicket. It falls well short of Lomror there and a single is stolen. |
| 10.3 : Kartik Tyagi to Shimron Hetmyer, In the air...but safe. Delhi are struggling against the short balls here. Short delivery, Hetmyer pulls but manages to get a top edge. It falls safely to the right of Buttler and a single is pinched in again. |
| 10.4 : Kartik Tyagi to Marcus Stoinis, Back of a length delivery, worked past the bowler for a single. |
| 10.5 : Kartik Tyagi to Shimron Hetmyer, Slow, short ball from Tyagi, Hetmyer pulls. Does not get the timing right again. It goes uppishly to square leg for a single. |
| 10.6 : Kartik Tyagi to Marcus Stoinis, A dot to finish. Full and around off, blocked back. Good end to the over from Tyagi. |
| 11.1 : Rahul Tewatia to Shimron Hetmyer, Flatter ball outside off, Shimron cuts but finds point. |
| 11.2 : Rahul Tewatia to Shimron Hetmyer, Flatter again, cuts again, this time finds Steven Smith at cover-point. |
| 11.3 : Rahul Tewatia to Shimron Hetmyer, Same line, same length, same shot. A misfield at point this time and a single is sneaked in. |
| 11.4 : Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, On the shorter side, outside off, bunted down to long off for a single. |
| 11.5 : Rahul Tewatia to Shimron Hetmyer, On the shorter side, outside off, pulled to Lomror at mid-wicket for a single. |
| 11.6 : Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, A single and just the 4 runs off the over. Flatter ball, Stoinis looked to work that on the off side. It comes off the bottom edge and goes past a diving Tewatia. A single taken. |
| 12.1 : Andrew Tye to Marcus Stoinis, Outside off on a length, left alone. |
| 0.0 : Andrew Tye is back in the attack. 1-0-8-0 so far. |
| 12.2 : Andrew Tye to Marcus Stoinis, Back of a length outside off, guided to third man for a single. |
| 12.3 : Andrew Tye to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX! That is what Hetmyer can do. Shortish ball on middle and leg, Hetmyer uses the pace and pulls it effortlessly over deep square leg. |
| 12.4 : Andrew Tye to Shimron Hetmyer, Fullish on the stumps, Shimron looked to defend but the ball lobs uppishly off the outer half and goes to Smith at cover. A single is pinched in. |
| 12.5 : Andrew Tye to Marcus Stoinis, Full and outside off, driven to the right of sweeper cover for a couple. |
| 12.6 : Andrew Tye to Marcus Stoinis, Good ball to finish. Very full and almost in the blockhole around off, jammed out to square leg for a single. |
| 13.1 : Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, An appeal for LBW but Stoinis was too far down the pitch. Floated around off and middle, Stoinis comes down the track and looks to defend. But misses to get hit on the pads. An appeal follows but to no avail. The ball goes behind the keeper and a leg bye is taken. |
| 13.2 : Rahul Tewatia to Shimron Hetmyer, Outside off, flat, cut to deep point for a single. |
| 13.3 : Rahul Tewatia to Marcus Stoinis, OUT! CAUGHT! This is a soft dismissal. There have been plenty of soft dismissals in this game so far. Flatter one outside off, pitches and spins away further. Stoinis cuts, had he left it would have probably been a wide. But cannot blame him, it is that stage where you go after the balls. He goes after it. However he gets it uppishly and only as far as the Rajasthan skipper, Smith, at cover-point. |
| 13.4 : Rahul Tewatia to Harshal Patel, Full on off, blocked. |
| 13.3 : Who will walk out to bat now? Harshal Patel it is. |
| 13.5 : Rahul Tewatia to Harshal Patel, Outside off, Harshal looked to work that towards third man. Gets it uppishly and to the left of backward point. It goes through the backward point fielder for a couple. |
| 13.6 : Rahul Tewatia to Harshal Patel, Harshal Patel blocks it back to the bowler. |
| 14.1 : Kartik Tyagi to Shimron Hetmyer, Slower ball on the pads, Hetmyer tucks it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 0.0 : Kartik Tyagi is back in the attack. 2-0-12-0 so far. |
| DRINKS! Delhi are at Nelson, 111/5 at the end of 14 overs. They have quite a task to put up a good total now. This is Sharjah and anything below 200 would be scorned upon. They have only Axar Patel next and it is imperative that they start lashing out, while also playing watchfully, for the next couple of overs and then unleash completely. Let's see how they go about. |
| 14.2 : Kartik Tyagi to Harshal Patel, Full ball outside off, Harshal drives it through extra cover and picks up a couple before the fielder cuts it off. |
| 14.3 : Kartik Tyagi to Harshal Patel, Length ball on off, Patel guides it to third man for a single. |
| 14.4 : Kartik Tyagi to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX! Absolutely brilliant from Hetmyer! Short ball around the pads, Hetmyer pulls it over fine leg for a maximum. |
| 14.5 : Kartik Tyagi to Shimron Hetmyer, Very full outside off, Hetmyer looks to dig it out but misses. |
| 14.6 : Kartik Tyagi to Shimron Hetmyer, LEG BYE! Full on the pads, Hetmyer looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. The ball rolls to the leg side and a leg bye is taken. |
| Andrew Tye is back into the attack. |
| 15.1 : Andrew Tye to Shimron Hetmyer, SWING AND A MISS! Nice start from Tye! Good length ball outside off, Hetmyer looks to swing it away but fails to get any bat on it. |
| 15.2 : Andrew Tye to Shimron Hetmyer, FOUR! Good, strong blow from Hetmyer! Baseball-style shot from Hetmyer! Short ball around off, Hetmyer waits for it and then pulls it towards the long on region for a boundary. |
| 15.3 : Andrew Tye to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX! Hammered! 10 off the last two balls! Full ball outside off, Hetmyer powers it over extra cover for a biggie. |
| 15.4 : Andrew Tye to Shimron Hetmyer, Fullish ball outside off, Hetmyer plays it to deep point for a single. |
| 15.5 : Andrew Tye to Harshal Patel, Very full on the pads, Harshal flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 15.6 : Andrew Tye to Shimron Hetmyer, A good ball to finish from Tye! Yorker outside off, Shimron digs it out to the off side for a single. |
| 16.1 : Kartik Tyagi to Shimron Hetmyer, Hits the pads! Very full ball on the pads, Hetmyer looks to heave it to the deep mid-wicket region but misses and gets hit on the pads. A leg bye taken as the ball goes to the off side. |
| 16.2 : Kartik Tyagi to Harshal Patel, Very full on off, Patel drives but finds the mid off fielder. A dot ball. |
| 16.3 : Kartik Tyagi to Harshal Patel, OVERTHROWS! Low full toss outside off, Patel drives it to point. Patel wants the single but is sent back. The fielder throws a direct hit at the keeper's end. An overthrow taken as the ball goes to the deep on the leg side. |
| 16.4 : Kartik Tyagi to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX! Hammered! Full ball on off, Hetmyer lifts it over long off for a maximum. Much-needed maximum for Delhi! |
| 16.5 : Kartik Tyagi to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX! Hetmyer is finding the maximums now! He is putting on a show now! Full outside off, Hetmyer launches it over the deep mid-wicket region for a biggie. |
| 16.6 : Kartik Tyagi to Shimron Hetmyer, OUT! CAUGHT! Tyagi has the last laugh! This is a good catch from Rahul Tewatia! Good judgement! Full ball on middle, Hetmyer heaves it to long on but does not have the required distance on it. Tewatia there times his jump to perfection and takes a very good catch. End of a good innings from Shimron Hetmyer. |
| Axar Patel is the next man in. Jofra Archer is back on. |
| 17.1 : Jofra Archer to Axar Patel, Full ball on off, Patel pushes it to the off side for a single. |
| 17.2 : Jofra Archer to Harshal Patel, Very full ball outside off, Patel drives it through extra cover for a couple. |
| 17.3 : Jofra Archer to Harshal Patel, Harshal would have been a goner! Very full ball outside off, Patel digs it out to point and takes off for a single. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Harshal Patel was out if he had hit. |
| 17.4 : Jofra Archer to Axar Patel, WIDE! Down the leg side, Axar looks to flick but misses. Wided. |
| Jofra Archer to Axar Patel, Direct hit would have got Axar! Full on off, Axar drives it to mid off and takes off. Smith has a shy at the bowler's end but it hits the bowler's hand. Axar made his way in and a single is added to the total. |
| 17.5 : Jofra Archer to Harshal Patel, Short ball around middle, Harshal ducks under it. |
| 17.6 : Jofra Archer to Harshal Patel, FOUR! Good end to the over for Delhi! Fullish ball outside off, Harshal lifts it over extra cover for a boundary. |
| Andrew Tye will bowl the 19th over. |
| 18.1 : Andrew Tye to Axar Patel, FOUR! Lovely shot from Axar Patel! Fuller ball on middle, Axar hammers it over the bowler's head for a boundary. Delhi need more of these. |
| 18.2 : Andrew Tye to Axar Patel, WIDE! Very full outside off, Axar looks to drive but misses. Wide signalled though. |
| Andrew Tye to Axar Patel, Short ball on off, Axar pulls it to long on for a single. |
| 18.3 : Andrew Tye to Harshal Patel, Just short! Low full toss on off, Harshal lifts it towards long off where the fielder collects it on the bounce. Only a single. |
| 18.4 : Andrew Tye to Axar Patel, FIVE NO BALLS! What are you doing Tye? Cannot bowl these at this stage! Full toss way over the waist! Axar looks to heave but misses. Buttler fails to collect and the ball races to the fence. A Free Hit will follow. |
| Andrew Tye to Axar Patel, SIX! Wow, that is some hit! Excellent batting from Axar Patel! Full on middle, Axar thrashes it over the bowler's head for a biggie. |
| 18.5 : Andrew Tye to Axar Patel, FOUR! Brilliant, just brilliant from Axar Patel! These runs are hurting Rajasthan! Short ball around off, Patel rocks on his back foot and pulls it to the deep-wicket region for a boundary. |
| 18.6 : Andrew Tye to Axar Patel, OUT! CAUGHT! Thinnest of edges back to the keeper and Axar Patel has to go after playing a fine cameo. Good length ball outside off, Patel looks to drive but gets a faint edge back to Buttler who makes no mistake. End of a tough day at the office for Andrew Tye. |
| 19.1 : Jofra Archer to Harshal Patel, Yorker on off, Harshal pushes it to the off side for a single. |
| 18.6 : Kagiso Rabada is in now. |
| 19.2 : Jofra Archer to Kagiso Rabada, Excellent ball from Archer! Very full outside off, Rabada fails to dig it out as it goes to the keeper. |
| 19.3 : Jofra Archer to Kagiso Rabada, Yorker on middle, Rabada heaves it to the leg side for a single. |
| 19.4 : Jofra Archer to Harshal Patel, OUT! CAUGHT! Archer gets his third! He has been brilliant in this game! This is a brilliant last over so far! Good length ball on middle, Patel looks to heave it to the leg side but gets a top edge towards the deep mid-wicket region where Tewatia takes a good catch. |
| 19.5 : Jofra Archer to Kagiso Rabada, Full and outside off, Rabada digs it out to point and takes a single. |
| 19.6 : Jofra Archer to Ravichandran Ashwin, A dot to finish! Excellent from Jofra Archer! Good length ball outside off, Ashwin looks to cut but misses. DELHI FINISH ON 184 FOR 8. |
| Brilliant finish for Rajasthan. They sent Delhi in to bat and have curtailed them to well under 200. A minor scare towards the end, especially as Tye's last over leaked 22 runs. But in the end, Rajasthan would feel very happy on the restriction. |
| How you start matters and that proved to the case in the end. Three dangerous batters - Shaw, Dhawan and Iyer were contained without much damage conceded. 3 wickets down at the end of the Powerplay and quite unlike Delhi. But then Pant and Stoinis were in the middle. Fireworks expected naturally. Pant however fell cheaply. Stoinis was looking dangerous but departed after making 39 off 30. |
| Hetmyer got going and it looked like Delhi could count on him today. He did bat well but got out after an excellent 45 off 24. Normally a great knock, but today his team needed more. Axar Patel made a good cameo towards the end but Delhi would be disappointed with the way they have gone about. |
| Rajasthan bowlers would be very happy with their performance. Archer was the pick of the bowlers as usual, 3/24 in his 4 overs. Kartik, Tye and Tewatia got 1 apiece. Tye though went for plenty in his maiden outing this season. The spinners bowled well. They kept it short and did not toss up much, knowing pretty well they could be hammered in this short ground. Overall, a very disciplined effort from Smith's men with the ball and in the field as well, effecting brilliant run outs. |
| Rahul Tewatia is in for a chat. He says that when he saw the pitch, he realized that he needed to vary the pace and mix up the lines and lengths. Adds that he was just planning to not give much time to the batters and push the ball towards the batters. Says that Hetmyer's catch was an important one and for a minute, he misjudged that but is pleased to take it in the end. States that the target is chaseable. |
| The chase will be interesting as Delhi would still back themselves, knowing the quality and depth in their bowling. They know Mumbai restricted Hyderabad to under 180 at Sharjah earlier and would look to take a leaf out of that. Smith though would favour a win as this is familiar hunting ground for Rajasthan. Stay tuned for a cracker of a chase... |
Google +
Facebook
Twitter
Whatsapp