IPL 2021: Chris Morris the hero as RR register 1st win against DC since 2018

Another day, another thriller. The seventh match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) between the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) was one of changing fortunes. After the first innings, it seemed certain that the Royals could easily chase down a total of just 148 on a usually batting-friendly Wankhede track. Halfway through the second innings, it seemed like Rishabh Pant had masterminded another DC win. Finally, it was IPL’s most expensive signing, who justified his price tag, and won the game for the Royals with both his batting and bowling performance to give Sanju Samson’s side their first points of the season. It also washed away the heartbreak of the loss against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). The Royals won by three wickets and with two balls to spare. It was also their first win in six matches against the Delhi-based franchise. The last triumph was back in 2018.

In a batting lineup that crumbled disastrously, there were two Royals players who held their own and ensured that their team came out on top. The South African duo of David Miller and Chris Morris smashed the Royals home from a perilous situation. The Royals were 42-5 at one point and seemed all but out of the competition. However, Miller’s 62 off 43 deliveries gave RR a fighting chance and Chris Morris’ explosive 36* off 18 balls ensured that victory. It was a nice redemption story for Miller who played only one game last season in which he got out without facing a single ball. It also takes a large amount of pressure off Morris’ shoulders for being the most expensive signing in the competition’s history.

The Capitals’ bowlers were impressive in their own right, but it just was not enough. Youngster Avesh Khan put in yet another impressive shift, picking three wickets for 32 runs from his four overs. Chris Woakes and Kagiso Rabada also bagged a couple of wickets each and conceded 22 and 30 runs respectively. The onus of Delhi’s loss, therefore, falls almost entirely on their batting collapse.

Delhi Capitals handed brutal reality check

After a dominating batting performance against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their first game, the Capitals were subjected to a brutal reality check as they were restricted in the first innings to a humble 147. Captain Rishabh Pant played a fabulous knock of 51 off 32 deliveries but nobody in the Delhi batting lineup could really support him. Lalit Yadav and Tom Curran were the only players who reached the 20-run mark, scoring 20 and 21 respectively. Pant would have been reliant on his two openers after their performance against CSK, but both Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw failed to deliver.

The Royals did an extraordinary job of restricting DC to a below-par score. The RR bowlers had a field day, especially veteran pacer Jaydev Unadkat. He took three wickets for just 15 runs in his four overs, at an economy of below 4. Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman picked a couple of wickets and Chris Morris picked one. RR’s fielding was also impressive, running out the likes of Rishabh Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin. 

Questions will be asked of both teams’ batting displays and rightfully so. On paper, both teams have top-quality batters but performances like today’s will be a matter of grave concern for both.