Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson admitted they were 15-20 runs short against Delhi Capitals at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Wednesday after they lost by eight wickets. RR posted a fighting score of 160-6 after Rishabh Pant won the toss and decided to bowl first.
In fact, it looked like Rajasthan Royals will be able to post 175-180 but they could not add the finishing touches. The inaugural champions could only manage 53 runs in the last six overs and also lost four wickets.
The platform was laid for a big score by Ravichandran Ashwin, who scored his maiden IPL fifty, and Devdutt Padikkal, who scored 48 runs off just 30 balls. However, Riyan Parag, Sanju Samson, and Rassie van der Dussen could not provide the finishing kick to their team.
On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals didn’t have the rub of the green on their side in the field. They missed a couple of chances, which cost them big. Furthermore, Mitchell Marsh was plumbed in front of the wickets but Trent Boult and Sanju Samson decided not to take the review. Marsh went on to score a match-winning knock of 89 runs off just 62 balls.
David Warner and Mitchell Marsh added 144 runs for the second wicket alliance, which is the biggest partnership of the season for Delhi Capitals’. Warner continued his good form as he scored another vital unbeaten knock of 52 runs to get his team over the line.
Sanju Samson was disappointed with his team’s performance as he said in the post-match presentation, “Very disappointing night. We were a few runs short, and a few wickets short in the middle. While we were batting the wicket was two-paced. We were 15-20 runs short. While bowling second we dropped a few catches. Really disappointed, but we would like to come back in the next game. I never thought it (Marsh’s lbw) could have been pad, we thought it came off the bat. We need to come back stronger after losing any game in IPL, and I hope we come back stronger. We have done that in the past. Hetmyer will be back soon.”
Rajasthan Royals are a touching distance away from making it to the playoffs and they would want to take their foot off the pedal after this loss. The Sanju Samson-led team will next face Lucknow Super Giants at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.
