David Warner’s stunning 77 went in vain as Rajasthan Royals held nerves to restrict Delhi Daredevils to 160/6 and register a 5-run victory in their IPL 6 match at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium here.
Chasing 166-run target, Daredevils were well on course for the victory but Warner’s dismissal turned the match in Royals way. Kevon Cooper, who bagged 3-30 and bowled the tense last over, was the pick of Rajasthan bowlers.
Earlier, riding on skipper Rahul Dravid’s half-century, Rajasthan Royals posted a competitive 165 for seven.
Dravid (65) was ably supported by all-rounder Stuart Binny (40) but Daredevils pacers Umesh Yadav (4/24) and Ashish Nehra (2/35) bowled well at the death as the visitors lost four wickets in the space of eight deliveries with the addition of only four runs. Dravid’s knock came off just 51 deliveries and had six four and two sixes. The Royals got off to a brisk start with a new opening pair of Ajinkya Rahane and Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Kusal Perera.
Making his debut in the IPL, Perera came out to bat with an attacking intent and smashed the second ball of the innings for a boundary.
Perera had a lucky escape in an eventful third over of the innings bowled by Umesh Yadav. He was dropped on five by Johan Botha at the first slip off the bowling of Yadav.
The Sri Lankan then hit two successive fours in the same over but playing too many shots brought the downfall of the left-hander as he tried to hoick the final delivery from Yadav but ended up giving a simple catch to Irfan Pathan at extra-cover. He scored 14 off 12 balls and hit three fours.
At the other end, Rahane got off the mark with an exquisite on-drive to the mid wicket fence. Rahane gave the glimpse of his last year’s form when he hit Andre Russell first over his head followed by a deft touch to the third-man boundary, in two successive deliveries.
Rahane scored 28 in 24 balls before being dismissed by left-arm spinner Shabaaz Nadeem. All rounder Stuart Binny got off to a blazing start hitting Johan Botha for two sixes and a four in his first over. Binny’s knock came of just 20 balls and provided impetus the Royals to post a competitive total.
Rajasthan Royals 165 for 7 in 20 overs (Rahane 28, Dravid 65, Binny 40, Yadav 4 for 24) bt Delhi Daredevils160 for 6 in 20 overs (Warner 77, U Chand 23, Cooper 3 for 30).