ABU DHABI, Nov 2:
Delhi Capitals secured a top-two finish on their way to the Indian Premier League playoffs with a six-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore, who also qualified, here today.
While DC went straight to Qualifier 1, RCB made the playoffs after their opponents took more than 17.3 overs to complete the task, helping Virat Kohli’s side to finish the league stage engagements with better net run rate than Kolkata Knight Riders.
KKR will need Sunrisers Hyderabad to lose against Mumbai Indians on Tuesday to qualify.
Getting their act together in the nick of time after a two-week winless run, DC chased down a target of 153 with six balls to spare.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan (54) and Ajinkya Rahane (64) struck fine half-centuries to power DC to their target after their bowlers dished out a clinical performance and restricted RCB to 152 for seven.
This was a much-needed victory for Capitals after four defeats in a row.
Rahane and Dhawan stitched an 88-run partnership after the South African pace duo of Anrich Nortje (3/33) and Kagiso Rabada (2/30) led a fine bowling display to restrict RCB.
The Capitals will get two shots at qualifying for the final, while RCB will play in the eliminator.
Openers Prithvi Shaw (9) and Dhawan began the chase on an aggressive note, finding the ropes from the very first over.
However, the former India under-19 captain, who smashed two boundaries, once again departed early in the chase.
Dhawan found and able ally in Rahane as the two senior batsmen made full use of the field restrictions with the Capitals racing to 53 for one in quick time.
Dhawan reached his fifty in style, flicking the ball past short fine for a four. Shahbaz Ahmed broke the stand by getting rid of Dhawan in the 13th over.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer (7) was next to go with Rahane following soon. However, Rishabh Pant (8) and Marcus Stoinis (10) led Delhi to victory with an over to spare. (PTI)
Royal Challengers Bangalore
J Philippe c Shaw b Rabada 12
D Padikkal b Nortje 50
V Kohli c Stoinis b Ashwin 29
AB de Villiers run out 35
C Morris c Pant b Nortje 0
S Dube c Rahane b Rabada 17
W Sundar not out 0
I Udana c Iyer b Nortje 4
S Ahmed not out 1
Extras (b-1, w-3) 4
Total (For 7 wkts, 20 Overs) 152
Fall of Wickets: 1-25, 2-82, 3-112, 4-112, 5-145, 6-146, 7-150.
Bowling: Sams 4-0-40-0, Ashwin 4-0-18-1, Nortje 4-0-33-3, Rabada 4-0-30-2, Patel 4-0-30-0.
Delhi Capitals
Prithvi Shaw b Siraj 9
Shikhar Dhawan c Shivam b Shahbaz 54
Ajinkya Rahane c Shivam b Washington 60
Shreyas Iyer c Siraj b Shahbaz 7
Rishabh Pant not out 8
Marcus Stoinis not out 10
Extras: (lb 3, w 3) 6
Total: (4 wkts, 19 Overs) 154
Fall of Wicket: 1-19, 2-107, 3-130, 136-4.
BowlingL Chris Morris 2-0-19-0, Mohammed Siraj 3-0-29-1, Washington Sundar 4-0-24-1, Isuru Udana 2-0-24-0, Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-29-0, Shahbaz Ahmed4-0-26-2.
Today’s Fixture
SRH V/s Mumbai Indians (Sharjah) 7:30 PM
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