RCB vs DC

That is all from the first match of this double-header Saturday. The second game is already underway in Hyderabad with SRH batting first against CSK, you can catch all the action by switching tabs. From here, this is Sourabh Agrawal signing off on behalf of Pradeep and the rest of the team. See you soon!

Tristan Stubbs is the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 60 runs off 47 balls, here is what he had to say: Wasn't quite ready in the dressing room, the thought was to just watch the ball and take it from there. (in the powerplay) Came in early, I thought I could have a go in the last two overs of the powerplay. KL ended up getting the majority of the strike and he played great shots and gave us the momentum

We have had discussions as a batting group about batting in partnerships, he was going well so I just wanted to give him the strike. 

(on the pitch) Wasn't really spinning or anything but it was bit slow and low. Pretty much what I play on back home 

(Miller finishing it off) I kept thinking three sixes and we're back in it. Worst case, we could get anything we needed in the last over but did not really take it to the last over. I kept telling him that I know we are going to do it, not sure how. Thankfully, Miller was at the other end and that is his bread and butter

KL Rahul is substituting for Axar Patel as the DC captain on his birthday as Axar is struggling with cramps: (on his celebration last time) That was a one time thing. It was a good wicket, I could see Virat and Salt not happy as it was not coming off. It was not easy for us as well losing 3 overs in the powerplay but overall it was a good game

(partnership with Stubbs) The conversation was to play good cricketing shots and to find the boundaries. We did not want to go into our shell and not take it too deep, ideally we would have not liked it to go into the last over

There was faith in Stubbs and Miller, they do this on a daily for South Africa and in franchise cricket. We also knew that the 20th over would be a gamble for RCB, it was either going to be bowled by Romario or Suyash and we know our batters could take it on

David Miller [Delhi Capitals]: "(On his match-winning performance and comeback) It feels really good. I was disappointed a couple of games ago, so to come back and finish the game like this was very satisfying. That previous result stays at the back of your mind until you put things right, and I’m glad I could do that tonight.(On handling pressure and staying composed) I had some time off to work on a few things and focus on staying present. Early on, it wasn’t easy—the bowlers were spot on with their yorkers—but it was about staying patient and making the most of the opportunities later on.(On the chase strategy in the final overs) We knew the equation required a calm approach—minimizing dot balls and capitalizing when the boundary opportunities came. Once you get a couple of big hits, the pressure shifts. It was about clear communication, staying composed, and taking the game as deep as possible.(On his partnership with Stubbs) It was great batting with him. He anchored the innings beautifully and kept things calm throughout. When I came in, the message was to maintain intensity, which really helped. He’s a strong, composed batter, and having him there made a big difference.(On regaining confidence) It’s a big relief to get over the line and put that previous disappointment behind me. Performances like this help restore confidence, and it’s about building on this and continuing to deliver.

Rajat Patidar [Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain]: "(On the narrow defeat) It was really close, but I felt we were about 15–20 runs short. The start was excellent, especially from the openers, but losing wickets in a cluster around the middle overs pushed us onto the back foot.(On the pitch and batting approach) The surface was a bit tacky in the first innings, which made batting slightly challenging. Despite that, the way we finished in the final overs was a positive. The key discussion was about being clear in our plans and execution.(On lessons from the loss) It’s a long tournament, so the focus now is to go back, assess where we went wrong, and make the necessary corrections moving forward."

7:27 PM local time and IST: MATCH SUMMARY

Delhi Capitals (179/4 in 19.5 overs) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (175/8 in 20 overs) by 6 wickets

Tristan Stubbs 60*(47) | Axar Patel 2/18(3)
Phil Salt 63(38) | Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/26(4)

If redemption had a name, it would be David 'Killer' Miller! A huge release of emotions as soon as he hit the winning runs, something that he failed to do a couple of games ago and the 36-year old will be sleeping well tonight for sure

He hugs Stubbs at the other end, is greeted by Jordan Cox who gives him a couple of pats and finally the smile comes out from the man who is known for finishing games like this. DC head coach Hemang Badani gives him a warm embrace too and he too will be a relived man tonight, DC have got back to winning ways playing after a week's time and now have made it 6 points in 5 games to move up to number 4 in the points table while RCB succumb to their second loss in 6 games and retain their second spot

Tristan Stubbs was the glue of this chase, the spotlight might all be on Miller for now but his countryman has once again remained cool and composed as ever and stayed till the end of which he is making a bit of habit. He ends up on an unbeaten 60, walks off with Miller and two points

The run chase was set up by KL Rahul at the start though, the man who turned 34 today took to his home ground like a fish to water and looked in complete control as he racked up another fifty against RCB, this time in 30 balls before he fell to Krunal. It got much tighter at the end than DC would have liked, which is massive plaudits to the RCB bowlers for nailing their execution at the death and took it down to the last over

Bhuvneshwar Kumar cracked the game open for RCB in the powerplay with 3 wickets in his first 2 overs at the top, DC were in a spot of bother at 18/3 after 3 overs.

KL Rahul and Stubbs then got together and took the ship out of troubled waters with a calm and composed 69-run partnership. Axar played a handy cameo after that partnership was broken, the DC skipper had to walk off due to cramps and that is when RCB tightened the screws amidst a 24-ball period without any boundary for DC

19.5 Romario Shepherd to David Miller, FOUR! THAT'S IT! MILLER FINISHES THE GAME IN THREE BALLS! RCB have been stunned here, DC pull off a cliff hanger, they are back to winning ways. Low full toss on the pads, Miller whacked it through mid-wicket and Miller seals the game in style.

19.4 Romario Shepherd to David Miller, SIX MORE! SCORES ARE LEVEL! Killer Miller's here and doing it for DC. Shepherd misses his length, Miller reaches and launches it over deep covers for a maximum.

Miller gets one out of the ground, finally! Needed that badly, 7 off 3 now and this is once again Miller-territory. What will be the result this time around?

19.3 Romario Shepherd to David Miller, SIX! BAM! Juicy full toss, Shepherd, you can't be bowling that to someone like Miller. Right in the slot and Miller has dispatched it into the stands over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.

19.2 Romario Shepherd to Tristan Stubbs, nails the yorker on the stumps, Stubbs sits deep inside the crease and clipped it to deep mid-wicket, gets just a single.

19.1 Romario Shepherd to David Miller, good start to the over for RCB! Length delivery on the leg-stump, Miller misses out, has a big swing and a miss, pings on the pad and they get a leg-bye.