LIVE
Sat, 25 September 2021
IPL updates: Punjab prevail despite Holder's heroics

Timeline  Refresh

23:12  
Sunrisers 96-6 (17) vs Punjab 125-7 | Scorecard

Punjab Kings successfully defended the score of 125, outclassing SRH by 5 runs. Requiring 7 seven runs off the last ball, Jason Holder couldn't get the distance and finished with 120/7. 

Jason Holder had an excellent game as he remained unbeaten on 47 adding to his his 3-19 while bowling. 

For Kings XI, Ravi Bishnoi had the best figures with 3-24. 
22:51  
Sunrisers 96-6 (17) vs Punjab 125-7 | Scorecard

Wriddhiman Saha who rallied the innings so well now departs for 31. Saha played one to the leg side and wanted to take the second run as well. But a yes or no situation with Jason Holder cost him his wicket. 

SRH will hope Holder can the team through now after he smoked 3 sixes in his short innings so far. 

With three overs to go, SRH need 30 runs of 18 balls. 
22:32  
Sunrisers 60-5 (13) vs Punjab 125-7 | Scorecard

None of batters from either team have found it easy to bat on this pitch. Sunrisers batsmen Saha and Kedar Jhadav have intelligent in the middle and have rotated the strike to ensure that the required run rate doesn't go beyond them. 

The duo have dealt quite happy to take singles and get comfortable in the middle and looks like they are quite happy to play the waiting game. 


Spinners Harpreet Brar and Ravi Bishnoi have got purchase from the  wicket. And as we speak, Bishnoi strikes once again to remove Jhadav for 12. 

Jhadav looking to play one fine chopped one back onto his stumps to give Punjab the breakthrough. 

Bishnoi then struck again of the last ball of the over as he removed Abdul Samad for just 1. 
22:07  
Sunrisers 32-3 (8) vs Punjab 125-7 | Scorecard

Ravi Bishnoi struck in his opening over as he removed Manish Pandey for 13.

Pandey who was getting frustrated in the middle with no pace on to the bat, failed to read the wrong-un from Bishnoi and lost his leg-stump. 

No batters from either side have been able to get a grip of the pitch. Punjab bowlers have bowled well not giving any boundary balls to hit for Sunrisers batters.  
 
21:56  
Sunrisers 20-2 (6) vs Punjab 125-7 | Scorecard

Scoring has been tough on the pitch as after losing David Warner and Williamson early. Manish Pandey and Wriddhiman Saha are looking to consolidate and are not looking to take any undue risks. 

The duo is largely content with singles and double and are not looking to take any undue risks.  
image
21:43  
Sunrisers 10-2 (3) vs Punjab 125-7 | Scorecard

Mohammad Shami has struck big for Punjab as he removes David Warner for just 2. 

Warner looking to cut one outside off-stump got a bottom edge of the bat and was safely pouched by KL Rahul behind the stumps. 

Then in his second over, he cleaned up Kane Williamson for just 1. Williamson looking to hit one through the covers got an inside edge back onto his off and middle stump 

21:13  
Punjab 125-7 (20 ovs) vs Sunrisers | Scorecard


Sunrisers bowlers led by Jason Holder bowled brilliantly on a sluggish Sharjah wicket to restrict Punjab to 120-6. Holder who was the pick of the bowlers managed to remove Punjab openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal in the same over. 

Rahul who was looking to clear the short-midwicket region was caught by Suchith for 21. Agarwal followed him soon to the pavillion as he hoisted one to Kane Williamson for just 5. 

A lot was expected off Chris Gayle, but he too perished early -- adjudged LBW off the bowling of Rashid Khan for just 14. Aiden Makram was looking dangerous, but was holed out in the end off the bowling of part-timer Abdul Samad for 27. 

Holder finished with figures of 3-19 from his four overs. 
 
21:02  
Punjab 97-6 (16 ovs) vs Sunrisers | Scorecard

Punjab hasn't had the best day in office. After Samad dismissed well-set Aiden Makram, Jason Holder returned to pick up the wicket of Deepak Hooda for 13. 


Holder who has made a big impact in the match removing the Punjab openers now has figures of 3-11 and still an over to go. 

image
20:47  
Punjab 93-5 (15 ovs) vs Sunrisers | Scorecard

Abdul Samad now removes well-set Aiden Makram as Punjab continue to struggle on a sluggish wicket. 

Makram looking to take advantage of the full toss from Samad could only hit to Manish Pandey who took a good catch just inches away from the bounday. 
image
20:44  
Punjab 68-4 (12 ovs) vs Sunrisers | Scorecard


Rashid Khan has struck for Sunrisers removing dangerous Gayle for just 14. The West Indian was unable to read the leg-spinner and was adjudged LBW to peg Punjab back further. 

Punjab has struggled on a sluggish wicket and spinner and medium pace bowlers. 

Sandeep Sharma then struck in next over removing Nicolas Pooran for just 8. Punjab needs someone to stay in the middle and stitch a partnership   
image
20:10  
Punjab 39-2 (8 ovs) vs Sunrisers | Scorecard

Scoring runs on the Sharjah pitch has been tough. The sluggish nature of the pitch is making scoring runs a difficult task. 

Chris Gayle is in the middle, but he hasn't had much of a strike. 

Aiden Makram on the other hand is trying to hit his way out but there is no timing available from pitch. 

Makram has already been dropped by David Warner, when he was on 4.  
19:56  
Punjab 27-2 (5 ovs) vs Sunrisers | Scorecard

Jason Holder introduced into the attack and he STRIKES immediately!!!

Rahul who was looking to slog one through the midwicket hit one straight to substitute fielder Suchit.

Chris Gayle who was included into the team, got off the mark immediately.    

Holder then struck again as he removed the other opener Mayank Agarwal for 5. Agarwal looking to clear the in field hit one straight to Kane Williamson at mid off



19:40  
Punjab Kings 13-0 (2 ovs) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Scorecard

Punjab Kings are of to a sedate start against Sunrisers Hyderabad. After winning the toss, Sunrisers put Punjab in. 

Openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal saw off a good over from Sandeep Sharma. 

Rahul slashed one of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the next over for his boundary. Agarwal too looked in good touch hitting one through covers for three runs.    

image
19:23  
Check out the playing XIs of the two teams:

Punjab Kings: KL Rahul (captain & wicketkeeper), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis 

Sunrisers HyderabadDavid Warner, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper),  Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson (captain) Kedar Jadhav, Abdul Samad, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma and Khaleel Ahmed

19:19  
In the second game of the day, Sunrisers Hyderabad and won the toss and elected to field first against Punjab Kings. 

Both teams are struggling at the bottom of the table they need to win desperately to salvage something from the tournament.  
image
19:13   Delhi outclass Royals to go top

Royals 121-6 (20 ovs) vs Delhi 154-6 | Scorecard

Nortje is back into the attack and he strikes first ball. Tewatia takes on the short ball from Nortje but ends up pulling it straight to Hetmyer on the fine leg fence to perish for nine.

Debutant Shamsi taps the first ball he faces to mid-off and looks for a quick single but is sent back.

A single to Shamsi in the covers as Royals bring up their 100, in the 18th over.

Samson steers a full delivery down to thirdman for a single to keep strike.

Rabada to bowl his fourth and final over. He starts with a yorker which Samson blocks before he scoops the next over short thirdman for a four.

Rabada goes for the yorker but ends up conceding a wide. He follows it up with a slower bouncer as Samson tries to upper cut it over thirdman but is beaten.

Samson slices the fourth ball over the off-side straight to Dhawan at sweeper cover, who puts down the simplest of catches.

An angry Rabada goes for the quick yorker but ends up bowling another wide before Samson keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Avesh to bowl the final over. He starts with a full toss which Samson strokes through the covers for a couple of runs.

Samson chips the third ball back over the bowler and is happy to take the single.

Shamsi drives the fourth ball through the covers for another run and Samson smashes the fifth ball over long-off for a six.

Royals finish on 121/6 in their 20 overs to lose the match by 33 runs as Delhi go top of the IPL with their eighth win from 10 games.
18:58   Delhi set for win as Royals struggle

Royals 99-5 (17 ovs) vs Delhi 154-6 | Scorecard

Axar comes back into the attack. Tewatia shuffles across and switch hits the spinner for just a single to deep point.

Samson tries the reverse sweep but can't make connection before he gets the shot right next ball for a four past short thirdman.

Samson was on 20 from 25 balls but has shifted gears to hit 28 from the last 13 balls, to take his score to 48 from 38 balls.

Despite Samson's counter-attack in the last couple of overs, Royals still face a uphill task with 64 needed from 4 overs for victory.

Avesh comes back into the attack. Tewatia takes a single from the first ball before Samson flicks the next through midwicket for a couple to race to his fifty, from 39 balls.

Avesh bowls a full toss down the leg side as Samson misses the glance but the umpire rules it a wide.

Samson gets an inside edge for a single and Tewatia picks one, hitting it down to long-on.

Eight runs from the over as Royals reach 99/5 in 17 overs, needing another 56 from the last three overs for victory.
image
18:45   Royals lose 5th wicket; Delhi in control

Royals 82-5 (15 ovs) vs Delhi 154-6 | Scorecard

Ashwin, who has one over in hand, comes back into the attack. Even the singles are proving difficult to come for Royals as Tewatia is unable to get a run off the first three balls.

He clips the fourth ball on the leg side for a single before Ashwin bowls a wide and Samson is beaten trying to reverse sweep as he takes a leg bye.

Nortje comes back into the attack. Samson mishits the first ball looking to swing it over the leg side for a couple of runs to midwicket.

Slightly short from Nortje as Samson guides it behind point for a four and then takes a single to midwicket.

Singles from the last two balls as nine runs come from the 14th over.

Rabada, who has two overs in hand, is back into the attack. Samson glances the second ball fine on the leg side for a four and punches the next through the covers for one.

Tewatia does the same next ball for a single to the fielder at sweeper cover.

Samson picks the slower ball from Rabada and slaps it over the fielder at mid-off for a four.

He is bringing some cheer back to the Royals camp as he pulls the last ball for the third four of the over, as Rabada goes for 14 runs in his third over.

Royals are 82/5 in 15 overs, with 73 needed from the last five overs for victory.
18:32   Royals lose 5th wicket; Delhi in control

Royals 56-5 (12 ovs) vs Delhi 154-6 | Scorecard

Samson late cuts Axar for a four through thirdman to take Royals past the 50-run mark, in the 12th over.

But wickets keeping fall for Royals as Parag looks to swing Axar across the line but misses and is bowled for 2.

Delhi looking set for a big win as Royals slip to 55/5, in the 12th over.

They need another 99 runs from the last eight overs for victory as the asking rate goes above 12.
18:28   Royals lose 4th wicket; Delhi in control

Royals 49-4 (11 ovs) vs Delhi 154-6 | Scorecard

Lomror breaks the shackles as he comes down the track and lofts Ashwin back over his head for a six.

Ashwin does well to concede just three singles from the rest of the over.

Axar keeping things in check from his end as he gives away four runs in his second over, with Royals on 48/3 in 10 overs at the halfway stage.

Rabada comes back into the attack and he strikes with the wicket of Lomror for 19.

The left-hander pulls the short ball straight into the hands of Avesh on the fine leg fence as Royals slip to 48/4 in the 11th over.

Riyan Parag offers no shot to the first ball he faces and is beaten next ball as he pushes away from his body.

He gets a single from the last ball for the only run in that Rabada over.
image
18:23   Delhi's bowlers leave Royals in a mess

Royals 34-3 (8 ovs) vs Delhi 154-6 | Scorecard

Things not getting easier for Royals as Delhi bring in their premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada into the attack.

He makes a good start, conceding just two runs in his first over as Royals manage a lowly 21/3 in six overs, without hitting a single boundary in the Powerplay.

Ashwin continues as Lomror defends the first ball and clips the next through midwicket for a single.

Samson then reverse sweeps Ashwin behind point for the first boundary of the Royals innings in the seventh over, and then takes a single to long-on.

A single to Lomror down to long-off before Samson blocks the last ball back to Ashwin.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel comes into the attack. He keeps things tight as he gives away just six runs in his first over.

Royals struggling on 34/3 in eight overs with the asking rate going up to 10, with as 121 are needed from 12 overs for victory.
image
18:04   Delhi's bowlers leave Royals in a mess

Royals 19-3 (5 ovs) vs Delhi 154-6 | Scorecard

Avesh continues as Samson and Miller pick two singles each to get four runs from the third over, as Royals look to rebuild after a couple of early wickets.

In the next over, Nortje has a huge appeal for leg before wicket turned down against Samson as the batter got an inside edge on to his pads.

After three dot balls in a row, Samson steers the fourth ball to thirdman for one and Miller picks a single off the next.

Nortje picks up another wicket as Samson goes for the pull but the ball goes off the top edge and wicketkeeper Pant takes a good diving catch to his right.

Samson immediately takes the review and rightly so as the ball missed the bat and went off side of his helmet and the decision is overturned.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin comes into the attack and takes just two deliveries to strike.

Miller comes down the track and looks to smash it down the ground but is beaten all ends up and is stumped by wicketkeeper Pant for 7.

Mahipal Lomror gets off the mark with two runs through midwicket but is unable to get a run off the last three balls.
17:53   Royals in trouble after early wickets

Royals 11-2 (2 ovs) vs Delhi 154-6 | Scorecard

Rajasthan Royals have a new opening pair as Yashasvi Jaiswal walks out to open with Liam Livingstone.

Avesh Khan starts off with the ball for Delhi. Livingstone chips down the track to the first ball and hits it on the off-side for a single to get off the mark.

Jaiswal slashes the next ball square on the off-side for two runs as the fielder half stops it.

The left-hander cuts the fourth ball over point for three runs before Avesh makes the early breakthrough with the wicket of Livingstone.

The England right-hander looks to pull the short ball but gets the edge and is caught behind for one.

Anrich Nortje from the other end. He strikes first ball with the wicket of Jaiswal, who pokes away from his body and gets the edge to be caught behind for five.

David Miller gets off the mark with a single and Samson picks one off the next on the leg side.

Miller flicks the last ball through the midwicket region for three runs.
image
17:23   Royals' bowlers restrict Delhi to 154

Delhi 154-6 (20 ovs) vs Royals | Scorecard

Tyagi to bowl his fourth and final over. Axar clips the first ball through square leg for a couple of runs and gets one off the next ball.

Lalit drills a full delivery down to long-on for a single before the pacer bowls two wides in a row.

Lalit tries to sweep the fast bowler but is beaten before gets the shot right next ball as the fielder at square leg messes up an easy stop to give away a boundary.

27 runs from his last two overs as Tyagi finishes with 1/40 in his four overs.

Sakariya comes back, to bowl the penultimate over. Axar smacks the first ball back over the bowler's head for a six before the pacer bowls a wide.

Sakariya gets revenge as Axar pulls the short ball straight into the hands of David Miller at long-on to perish for 12.

Lalit flicks the next ball to midwicket for a single and Ravichandran Ashwin pushes the slower ball to point for one to get off the mark.

Lalit pulls the short ball as Tewatia does well to quickly swoop in at deep square leg to keep it down to just one.

Ashwin swings at the last ball but fails to make connection.

Mustafizur to bowl the final over. Lalit swings the first ball to deep midwicket for just a single and Ashwin also tries to slog but inside edges it back on to his pads for just one.

It's only singles at the moment for the two Delhi batsmen.

Ashwin swings as he manages to hit the pacer through square leg for a couple of runs to bring up the 150 for Royals.

He tries to reverse sweep the next ball which he misses as he looks to sneak a quick bye. Wicketkeeper Samson throws it back to the bowler with Ashwin struggling to make his crease but Mustafizur fails to break the stumps from close range and also ends up conceding another overthrow.

Ashwin chips the last ball over the bowler's head for two runs to long-on.

Delhi are restricted to 154/6 in their 20 overs, managing just 34 runs from the last four overs.

A superb effort with the ball from Mustafizur, who took 2/22 in four overs, without conceding a single boundary, while Sakariya claimed 2/33
17:07   Hetmyer out for 28; Delhi lose 5th wkt

Delhi 124-5 (17 ovs) vs Royals | Scorecard

Left-arm pacer Sakariya comes back into the attack. Hetmyer hits the first ball through the covers for a couple of runs and drills the next powerfully through the same region, this time for a four.

Hetmyer goes hard again at the third ball but is deceived completely by the change of pace.

However, Hetmyer picks the next ball early smashing the full delivery down the ground for a four past mid-on as Delhi go past the 100-run mark, in the 15th over.

A single each to Hetmyer and Lalit as Delhi reach 104/4 in 15 overs.

Tyagi comes back into the attack. Hetmyer drills a full toss square on the off-side for a four and carves the next ball over the same region for another boundary.

He ramps the last ball for the third four of the over, as Tyagi gives away 16 in his third over with Delhi getting a move on courtesy of Hetmyer, who has smashed 28 from 14 balls.

Mustafizur, who has two overs in hand, is back into the attack. Lalit does well to tap the first ball for a single to hand the strike back to Hetmyer, who is beaten by a cracking yorker which swings in and sneaks under the bat.

The Bangladesh pacer gets his man next ball as Hetmyer gets a thick outside edge trying to smash it hard and is caught at short thirdman for 28.

Three singles from the last three balls as Mustafizur does well to give away four runs, while picking up the key wicket of Hetmyer.
16:46   Pant and Iyer perish; Delhi in trouble

Delhi 92-4 (14 ovs) vs Royals | Scorecard

Tewatia comes back into the attack. He bowls a beautiful delivery to get rid of Iyer, who is stumped for 43 from 31 balls.

Tewatia drags Iyer out of the crease with a superb flighted delivery which the right-haner looks to loft down the ground but is beaten and wicketkeeper Samson whips off the bails quickly.

Pant and Iyer perish in the space of 11 deliveries as Delhi are reduced to 90/4 in the 14th over.

Lalit Yadav is unable to get a run off the first two balls he faces and then takes a single to long-off to get off the mark and Hetmyer pulls the last ball for one.
16:36   Pant out for 24; Delhi lose 3rd wicket

Delhi 90-3 (13 ovs) vs Royals | Scorecard

Left-arm pacer Mustafizur comes back into the attack. A single each to Pant and Iyer before the former hits a full delivery straight down the ground for a couple of runs as Livingstone does well to keep the ball inside the ropes running to his right at long-on.

Mustafizur gets the breakthrough with the key wicket of Pant, who drags the slower bouncer back on to his stumps to be bowled for 24.

Shimron Hetmyer gets off the mark with a single off the last ball to deep square leg.

Shami to bowl his fourth over in a row. Hetmyer takes a single off the first ball before Iyer misses out on some easy runs as he mishits the short ball to short fine leg.

A single each to Iyer and Hetmyer before the former carves the spinner over the off-side for two runs and takes one off the last ball.
16:27   Pant, Iyer bring Delhi back on track

Delhi 79-2 (11 ovs) vs Royals | Scorecard

Tewatia continues after the drinks break. Iyer hits the first ball down to long-on for a single before Pant goes for the sweep but is beaten as Royals appeal for leg before wicket which is turned down.

Pant cuts the third ball for a single before Iyer lofts the fourth ball down the ground for a six over long-on.

Singles from the last two balls as Delhi reach 66/2 in 10 overs, with Pant on 19 and Iyer on 27.

In the next over, Iyer looks to loft Shamsi down the ground but is unable to get hold of it, for a couple of runs wide of long-on.

Iyer lofts the third ball inside out over the covers for a six and reverse sweeps the fourth ball fine for a couple.

Delhi making good recovery as they reach 79/2 in 11 overs.
image
16:14   Shaw out for 10; Delhi lose 2nd wicket

Delhi 56-2 (9 ovs) vs Royals | Scorecard

Debutant left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi comes into the attack. With the field spread around, Iyer and Pant happy to milk the spinner for six easy singles in his first over.

Spin from both ends as leg-spinner Rahul Tewatia comes into the attack. Iyer takes a single to long-on off the first ball before Pant smashes a short ball over the top but only for one to deep point.

Three more singles as Tewatia gives away just five runs in his first over.

Shamsi starts his second over with a short ball which Iyer pulls to deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Iyer takes a single to deep square leg to bring up Delhi's 50, in the ninth over.

Pant sweeps the spinner along the ground behind square on the leg side for just the fourth boundary of Delhi's innings.

Pant punches a short ball to sweeper cover before Iyer fails to read the googly as he pushes it uppishly through the off-side for one.

image
16:03   Shaw out for 10; Delhi lose 2nd wicket

Delhi 36-2 (6 ovs) vs Royals | Scorecard

Sakariya strikes with the first ball of his second over. Shaw looks to loft the full delivery down the ground but only manages to hole out to Livingstone at long-of to perish for 10.

Both the openers perish cheaply as Delhi are reduced to 21/2 in the fifth over.

Rishabh Pant comes down the track first ball and taps Sakariya to mid-on for a single and Iyer pushes the slower ball to square leg for one.

Another slower ball as Pant gets a single on the leg side and Iyer pulls the short ball to deep midwicket for one.

Delhi struggling on 25/2 in five overs.

Iyer releases some pressure as he punches the short wide delivery from Tyagi through the covers for a four.

The pacer bowls a wide before Iyer throws his bat at the next ball but only for one to sweeper cover.

Tyagi goes short but down the leg side as Pant pulls it over short fine leg for a four.

Pant drives the last ball to mid-off for a quick single as Delhi reach 36/2 in six overs.
15:51   Dhawan out for 8; Delhi lose early wicket

Delhi 21-1 (4 ovs) vs Royals | Scorecard

Left-arm pacer Chetan Sakariya comes into the attack. Dhawan comes down the track and only manages to clip the left-hander on the leg side for a single before Shaw is beaten by the change of pace trying to smash it hard.

Shaw slaps the pacer square on the off-side for a couple of runs and pulls the next ball through midwicket for two more runs.

The last ball is again short as Shaw pulls it again for another couple of runs to get seven from the over.

Royals' hero with the ball in the last match Kartik Tyagi comes into the attack. He makes the perfect start with the key wicket of Dhawan, who manages to chop the ball back on to the stumps.

Tyagi strikes first ball as Dhawan walks back for eight with Delhi losing an early wicket.

Shreyas Iyer defends the first ball on the off-side before is beaten next ball trying to pull.

Tyagi bowls a wide trying to make the batsmen drive and Iyer drives the fifth ball through the covers for two runs to get off the mark.
15:46   Royals elect to bowl vs Delhi; Morris out

Delhi 11-0 (2 ovs) vs Royals | Scorecard

Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw are the two openers for Delhi Capitals, while left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman will open the bowling for Rajasthan Royals.

Shaw taps the first ball on the leg side for a single and Dhawan pushes the next on the off-side for another run.

Shaw drives the fourth ball straight down the ground as Liam Livingstone makes the diving stop at mid-off and keeps it down to a single and Dhawan gets a single off the next on the leg side.

Shaw flicks the last ball for a couple of runs through midwicket, as six runs come from the first over.

Left-arm spinner Mahipal Lomror from the other end. Dhawan steers the first ball behind point for a four before he nearly perishes as he tries to sweep but misses and the ball narrowly misses the stumps.

A single to Dhawan before Shaw is unable to get a run off the last two balls, as Lomror concedes just five runs in his first over.
image
15:12   Delhi Capitals go in with 3 overseas players

Check out the playing XIs of the two teams:

Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant (captain, w/k), Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Shimron Hetmyer, Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan.

Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (captain, w/k), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Liam Livingstone, David Miller, Mahipal Lomror, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Kartik Tyagi, Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman, Tabraiz Shamsi.
15:12   Royals win toss, elect to bowl vs Delhi

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has won the toss and elected to bowl against Delhi Capitals in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

"It is a day game, it gets easier to bat later," says Samson at the toss.

Royals have made two changes as Evin Lewis and Chris Morris have been left out, with David Miller and Tabraiz Shamsi coming into the team.

Delhi have made one change as Lalit Yadav comes in for the injured Marcus Stoinis, preferring to play with three overseas players.
image
14:44   Can rejuvenated Royals stop Delhi?

Welcome to the coverage of the Indian Premier League match between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Operating like a well-oiled unit, Delhi Capitals will be eager to consolidate their top spot when they clash with a resurgent Rajasthan Royals, who will be keen to keep the winning momentum going.

The Rishabh Pant-led side had a sensational first leg, winning six games in eight outings. They started the second phase on a high by handing Sunrisers Hyderabad an eight-wicket thrashing on Wednesday to maintain their top spot in the points table.

On the other hand, Rajasthan, who were struggling to find their feet in the first leg, will take a lot of confidence after snatching a two-run victory from the jaws of defeat against Punjab Kings.

With the win, they kept their hopes alive of making it to the play-offs. If they win against Delhi, it will take them to the fourth place and one step closer to the play-offs.

For Rajasthan, youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mahipal Lomror rose to the occasion with the bat against Punjab but skipper Sanju Samson will be expected to take more responsibility.

In the bowling, pacers Kartik Tyagi and Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman did the job in the end.

With Punjab needing eight runs to win of the final two overs, Rahman gave away just four in penultimate over before rookie Tyagi bowled a sensational final six balls, picking up two wickets while conceding just one run to seal the side's fourth win of the season.

The Royals will face a tough task against an in-form Delhi on Saturday, with openers Shikhar Dhawan -- the leading run scorer of the tournament this season -- and Prithvi Shaw looking in good touch.

Dhawan (422 runs) and Shaw (319 runs) have provided flying starts to their side with six half-centuries between them along with 88 fours and 21 sixes. For any bowling unit, facing the Dhawan-Shaw duo is a scary proposition.

Shreyas Iyer made a stunning return with an unbeaten 47 after missing the first leg due to injury, which is a big positive for the side.

Delhi also boast of a strong middle-order comprising, skipper Rishabh Pant (248 runs), Australian Steve Smith and Shimron Hetmyer, who can be highly destructive on their day.

In the bowling department, Delhi is unlikely to tinker with their pace attack, as Avesh Khan has been impressive, while the South African pace duo of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje are capable of running through any batting line-up.

Spinners Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin are difficult to get away in the middle overs, but Marcus Stoinis' injury will be a concern for the table toppers.

TOP STORIES