VIDEO: Bowlers excel as Delhi go on top with thumping win over hapless Bangalore
DC players celebrate after sending a RCB batsman back to the dugout.
Mohammad Abdullah, Staff Reporter
Kagiso Rabada bowled a captivating spell after Marcus Stoinis smacked a blitzkrieg 26-ball 53 as Delhi Capitals (DC) trounced Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 59 runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Monday.
After posting 196/4, Delhi restricted Bangalore to 137/9 to go on the top with the fourth win of the season. It would have been a five-wicket haul for Rabada, had he not dropped Aaron Finch off his own bowling in the first over of the innings.
Chasing, Bangalore were never in hunt. It was Ravichandran Ashwin, who triggered the skid with the dismissal of Devutt Padikkal (4) before Axar Patel got rid of Finch, who failed to capitalize on the reprieve, to make it 27-2.
Rabada was well supported by compatriot Anrich Nortje, who also took two wickets, conceding 22 runs in his quota of four overs. The South African pace duo bowled in tandem, hitting the deck with the speed of over 140km/hr as intimidated Bangalore’s batsmen were found dancing in their crease.
After the dismissal of Padikkal, Bangalore needed someone to play a big innings. Nortje had AB de Villiers caught by Dhawan to push Bangalore on the back foot. In the next over, Patel removed Moeen Ali to leave Bangalore tethering at 75-4.
Rabada came for his second spell and ripped through the middle-order as he accounted for the dismissal of four Bangalore batsmen, including the prize scalp of captain Kholi, who reached a personal milestone of 9,000 runs in Twenty20 across all tournaments.
After getting rid of Kohli in the 14th over, Rabada had Washington Sundar caught by Ashwin, rattled the stumps of Shivam Dube before sending back Isuru Udana to complete his four-wicket haul. He is the leading wicket-taker with 12 scalps in five games. Nortje uprooted the stumps of Mohammed Siraj as Bangalore could muster only 137/9 in 20 overs.
Earlier, Stoinis smashed a quick-fire 26-ball 53 to help Delhi post a huge total of 196/4. He shared an 89-run partnership with Rishab Pant for the fourth wicket to take the score to 179/4.
Stoinis came out in the middle after the dismissal of captain Shreyas Iyer when Delhi were 90-3 and needed one big partnership to post a healthy total.
The Australian took the charge in his hand and started hitting the ball all over the ground. He flexed his arms in the 14th over, collecting 15 overs with the help of a four and a six. He got a lifeline, when on 31, after being put down by Chahal off Saini in the 15th over.
He exploited the dropped chance and added another 22 runs to his score to remain unbeaten on 53. He was supported by Pant, who also smashed a 37 off 25 deliveries, hitting three fours and two sixes.
Iyer, who hit an unbeaten 88 off 33 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries and six over the fence, failed to recreate the same magic.
He was dismissed for 11 runs when Padikkal took a stunner at the deep mid-wicket off Ali. Iyer tried to slog Ali against the spin towards the midwicket but the ball went higher than intended, lacking the length.
Padikkal stretched out his long arms to take a stunning catch and lofted the ball back in the air before tripping over the boundary rope and coming inside immediately only to complete a clean catch.
