IPL 2023: RR VS DC, Jaiswal, Boult Guide Royals to the Top of the Points Table

IPL 2023: In the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday, April 8, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by 57 runs to claim their second win of the IPL 2023 season and their first at their second home ground- Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.

DC skipper David Warner won the toss and forced the Royals to bat first. In the first over of DC’s Khaleel Ahmed, RR’s opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler collected 20 runs off the first over. Once CSK got off to this kind of start, they didn’t look back. For a change, Jaiswal was the aggressor and Buttler took the back seat and played the role of the anchor. Both batters added 98 runs in 8.2 overs. On the third delivery of the ninth over, Jaiswal got out after his sparkling knock of 60 off 31 balls at a strike rate of 193.55. His innings included 11 fours and one six. Kuldeep Yadav then got the important wicket of RR skipper Sanju Samson. Warner’s plan to bowl Rovman Powell got him the wicket of Riyan Parag, who was promoted to bat at number 4.

Shimron Hetmyer joined Buttler in the middle and started attacking the bowlers. Like Jaiswal, Buttler also smashed his second half-century of the season. He scored 79 off mere 51 deliveries with the help of 11 fours and one six before getting out to Mukesh Kumar. Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel provided the finishing touches to the Royals’ innings as they post a gigantic total of 199 on the board.

IPL 2023: RR VS DC, Royals Hand Capitals Another Loss

Chasing a daunting total, DC got off to a horrible start as Royals’ new ball bowler Trent Boult wreaked havoc with the ball and claimed two wickets in the first over of the second innings for the second time this season to push the Capitals on the back door early in the chase. Warner and Rilee Rossouw added 36 runs but couldn’t continue for too long as the latter got out in the last over of the powerplay to Ravichandran Ashwin. Lalit Yadav and Warner had a decent 64-run partnership. However, they couldn’t accelerate and failed to keep the required run rate in check.

Once the in-form Axar Patel and big-hitting Rovman Powell departed, DC was out of the game completely. Warner registered another scratchy half-century this IPL 2023 season. DC finished with 140 on board for the loss of nine wickets as Royals claimed their second win of the season to go on the top of the points table.