Press Trust of India
Mumbai, May 3: Rajasthan Royals (RR) got back to winning ways by beating Delhi Daredevils (DD) by 14 runs at the Brabourne Stadium here Sunday.
Chasing 190 for a win DD lost the openers early and the efforts of their skipper JP Duminy (56, 39b, 3×4, 3×6) went down the drain as none of his teammates could provide him substantial support. James Faulkner (2/22), Stuart Binny (2/27) and Dhawal Kulkarni (2/43) got a couple of wickets each to restrict Delhi to 175 for seven.
Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane (91 n o, 54b, 9×4, 3×6) and Karun Nair (61, 38b, 6×4, 2×6) hit sparkling half centuries and got involved in a century stand to power RR to an imposing score of 189 for two after being sent in to bat first.
Rahane warmed up slowly before tearing into Delhi bowling to post his fourth half century of the season as well as reach to 430 runs in his 10th game which earned him the ‘orange cap’. Nair, promoted to number three at the fall of captain Shane Watson (21), gave his senior partner splendid support. Earlier Watson and Rahane stitched together an opening stand of 52 runs which beautifully set up RR for a big score.
Delhi started off well the 500th match of the IPL but then their pace-oriented bowling became wayward and the fielding rugged as three catches, two off Rahane and one off Nair, were put down and they also conceded runs through misfielding. The visiting side conceded 75 runs in the last five overs.
Australian fast bowler Gurinder Sandhu was handed a debut by the Daredevils but he failed to impress after getting hit for 49 runs in four overs.
Brief Scores
RR 189 for two (Ajinkya Rahane 91 n o, Karun Nair 61) beat DD 175 for seven (JP Duminy 56; James Faulkner 2/22) by 14 runs.
