Jaipur: Rajasthan Royals stayed second in the IPL 2024 points table despite beating Delhi Capitals by 12 runs in a thrilling encounter on Thursday at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Champions in the inaugural season, Rajasthan Royals had a chance to displace Chennai Super Kings from the top of the standings, but a close finish meant that the Sanju Samson-led side stayed at second owing to their lesser net run-rate. At the moment, both Rajasthan Royals and CSK have four points from two matches. While CSK’s NRR is +1.979, Rajasthan Royals have +0.800.
With Delhi Capitals needing 19 runs in the final over, Avesh Khan kept his cool to keep Tristan Stubbs and Axar Patel quiet to hand his team a second win in as many matches. It was Delhi Capitals’ second loss on the trot. Sent into bat first, the hosts were reeling at 36/3 in the eighth over before a Riyan Parag storm blew Delhi Capitals away.
The Assam cricketer smashed a 45-ball 84 with the help of six sixes and seven fours to take the game away from the opposition. Ravichandran Ashwin and Dhruv Jurel also contributed with few lusty blows. For Delhi Capitals, all the five bowlers took a wicket apiece.
In reply, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh gave Delhi Capitals a solid start. But once Marsh was dismissed, their run flow took a hit, adding pressure on the batters that followed. Stubbs, did try his best with a 23-ball 44 but it was not enough as he lacked support from his teammates.
Reacting after his final over heroics, Khan said, “My plan was clear, one side was longer and I wanted to bowl wide yorkers. I gave myself five seconds every ball to think and then execute the plan. If the batters play a good shot, it’s good for him, but I always back my yorkers.”
“We have Boult, Burger and Sandy, I’ve learnt a lot from them. The team management and Kumar Sangakkara have supported us a lot and have made us not worry too much about the fear of failure. I always want to improve, I want to invent new types of deliveries in T20s. I rest and relax well, work hard in the nets and that has allowed me improve my skills,” he added.