JAIPUR, India — Riyan Parag hit an unbeaten 84 off 45 balls and led Rajasthan Royals to a 12-run win over Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.
Rajasthan’s second straight victory continued the early trend of home teams dominating in the lucrative T20 league. Visiting teams have lost all nine games this season.
Parag, who smashed six sixes and seven boundaries, anchored Rajasthan to 185-5 after Rishabh Pant won the toss in his 100th IPL game and elected to field.
Delhi struggled against spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the middle overs before being restricted to 173-5 despite Tristan Stubbs counterattacking in the death overs.
Rajasthan ran into early trouble inside the batting power play when Yashasvi Jaiswal was clean bowled by Mukesh Kumar and Jos Buttler was out leg before wicket attempting a reverse sweep against wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Fast bowler Khaleel Ahmed then reduced Rajasthan to 36-3 when he had skipper Sanju Samson caught behind in the eighth over before Ravichandran Ashwin, promoted to No. 5, revived the innings with a cameo of 29 off 19 balls with Parag.
Parag then took charge against Delhi’s pace bowler Anrich Nortje and Kumar as Rajasthan plundered 77 runs in the last five overs.
Parag hammered South African Nortje for 25 runs in the last over that included three fours and two sixes while Kumar conceded 30 off his last two overs.
Australian pair of David Warner and Mitchell Marsh provided Delhi a rollicking start with Marsh smashing five boundaries before Nandre Burger’s twin strikes pulled things back for Rajasthan.
Burger clean bowled Marsh with a pacey swinging delivery before Ricky Bhui couldn’t get out of the way from a quick bouncer that brushed his gloves and Samson took a straightforward catch behind the wickets.
Sharma then held onto a spectacular catch at short third man to deny Warner a half-century while Pant showed brief signs of aggression before edging Chahal to Samson.
With 61 needed off the final four overs, Stubbs smashed three sixes and two boundaries, but Avesh bowled a brilliant last over for only four runs.
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