RR vs DC

That will be that for tonight, this DC win opens that points table up ever so slightly and that augurs well for this league. Tomorrow, it is the small matter of 5-time champions CSK vs 5-time champions MI in Chennai and both those teams can ill-afford to drop points now. You don't want to be missing it, we will be there as always bringing you the action. From here, this is Sourabh Agrawal signing off on behalf of Pradeep and the rest of the team. Cheers!

KL Rahul is now the Orange Cap holder (433 runs in 9 innings) and also the Player of the Match for his innings of 75 off 40, here is what he had to say:

(scoring runs in winning cause) In the end, we all play the sport to win. After playing for so many years and breaking records, if you don't get the W it does not matter.

(atmosphere after the losses) The dressing room has always been a decent place. We try to keep it as balanced as poosible. Realized that results haven't gone our way but it is not as if we have made huge mistakes or blunders, it is just moments that have taken it away from us. Needed to get sharp and crisp in some areas, important to take our chances in the T20 game and really happy with the win

(enjoyed facing Archer and Burger?) I did. Was hoping to face some more balls in the powerplay (laughs). The way Pathum batted, not much to do for me. Just stood at the other end and watched him smoke it, set it up for them and put is in front. Important to win powerplays with both the bat and the ball, the start that we got with the ball as well was very important

(partnership with Pathum Nissanka) Not a lot of conversations we have but I enjoy bat.

Strike rate was a big talking point for years, I have really worked on that. Really pleased to do what the team requires and at the same time keeping up with the modern T20 game

Axar Patel (DC captain): I said in the last game as well, need to turn up everytime and that is how you can turn it around. Very happy with how the boys played, both batting and bowling. (planning against Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi) We executed what we planned, as a captain can't be happier than that because those are batters that can take the game away in the powerplay. (return of Starc) Shows what a legend he is, playing and putting in a performance like that after thre months. Very happy to have him back. (growing as a leader himself) I was a leader in the Indian side as well, at the same time got to credit our think tank as well. (on his hand) Much better now, the physio has iced it. We lost two of our members of the DC toli in a tragedy and I would like to dedicate this win to them

Mitchell Starc [Delhi Capitals]: "(On returning after a break) It was good to get back out there and shake off a bit of rust. Getting some overs into the legs, spending time with the group, and contributing to a win made it a satisfying return.(On regaining rhythm after time away) I’ve been building up gradually over the past few weeks, but I hadn’t bowled to a batter for a while until recently. T20 cricket moves quickly, so it was about readjusting to that pace. From a skills point of view, I felt in a good place, and this game was a helpful reminder of the tempo. I’ll be better for the run.(On managing fitness and workload) There are always a few niggles—it’s part of being a fast bowler. You learn to manage them and keep going. That’s just the nature of the job."

Riyan Parag [Rajasthan Royals captain]: "(On the pitch and the total posted) I felt it was a good surface and around 200 was probably par. We expected it to slow down a bit, but with the ball, especially in the middle overs, we could have done a lot better. We allowed them to get away, particularly in a couple of overs where boundaries came in clusters, and that hurt us.(On the batting order and strategy around Donovan Ferreira) The idea was to hold him back slightly. With a few overs of spin left, we wanted to manage that phase and then allow him to go hard from ball one once the seamers came back. That was the thinking behind the call.(On his injury concern) It’s a slight hamstring issue, but hopefully nothing serious. We’ve got a short break coming up, so I’m hopeful of recovering in time.(On his personal performance and external noise) For me, it’s not about answering critics. The only thing that matters is contributing to a win. Individual performances don’t count for much if the team doesn’t get the result."

11:25 PM local time and IST: MATCH SUMMARY

Delhi Captials (226/3 in 19.1 overs) beat Rajasthan Royals (225/6 in 20 overs) by 7 wickets

KL Rahul 75(40) | Mitchell Starc 3/40(4)
Riyan Parag 90(50) | Tushar Deshpande 1/38(4)

A win after 4 games for DC, they keep their season afloat with their highest successful run chase ever in IPL and once again a total of more than 220 has been chased with relative ease this season! Ashutosh turns to his dugout, points to the back of his jersey, he has played an invaluable little cameo to get his side over the line and as a result it takes DC to number 6 with 4 wins in 9 games giving them much needed 2 points

226 was not a small total, by any stretch of the imagination but DC have got it done with ease. 5 balls to spare with 7 wickets in hand, this is almost like a template of how to approach a run chase like this. This also makes it back-to-back 220+ successful chases at Jaipur and RR have now lost both their games of the season here. They had the chance to break away from the cluster and move to the top of the log but could not and will remain at number 4, now they will have a week long's break before coming back here again

The run chase was set up in the powerplay by Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul, they got off the blocks pretty rapidly, specially Nissanka as DC raced to 70/0 at the end of 6 overs. Nissanka got his maiden fifty of the season and put on 110 for the opening wicket with Rahul before the former was dismissed by Jadeja

RR were hamstrung by the absence of their skipper Riyan Parag who limped off the park and Jaiswal had to fill-in for him, Archer's rare off-color new ball spell did not help either but that does not take away one bit from DC's batting clinic. KL Rahul (75) reclaimed the Orange Cap and Nitish Rana played a sparkling innings (33 from 17) in between before the job was comfortably finished off by Ashutosh (25*) and Stubbs (18*)

19.2 Brijesh Sharma to Ashutosh Sharma, NO-BALL! Anti-climatic end to the game, but doesn't matter as DC are back to winning ways here! RR fail to pick up those two points and they stay where they are on the points table. Full toss, above waist height, Ashutosh miscued the pull around the corner for one.

19.1 Brijesh Sharma to Ashutosh Sharma, FOUR! SCORES LEVEL! Magnificent shot from Ashutosh. Slower bumper outside the off-stump, hangs back and Ashutosh spanked it over extra-cover for a boundary.

Archer with a bemused look on his face, he thinks Bishnoi should have taken it but to be fair that was away from his reach. Only 5 needed from the final over, could be a matter of just one hit for DC

18.6 Jofra Archer to Tristan Stubbs, FOUR! That is an excellent finish to the over. Back of a length on the middle and leg, Stubbs flicked it in the air. Bishnoi runs around from deep mid-wicket, may have misjudged it and bounces past him to the ropes. Archer's fuming at the fielder.

18.3 Jofra Archer to Tristan Stubbs, OH! Comes up with a searing yorker, right up in the blockhole. Not much Stubbs could've done about it, digs it out.

18.2 Jofra Archer to Tristan Stubbs, length delivery on the leg-stump. Stubbs flicked it past mid-wicket and then scampers back for the brace.