Highlights: RR v DC | Pant crushes RR hopes

Hello and welcome to Deccan Herald's live coverage of the highly anticipated ficture between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals.

Both these sides started on an inconsistent note, but through the midphase stage, they have endured contrasting expeditions. DC are in pursuit of the top two spots, whereas for RR, each game is a knockout.

. JUST IN: DC win the toss and choose to bowl first.

. Rajasthan Royals XI : Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson (wk), Steven Smith (c), Ben Stokes, Riyan Parag, Ashton Turner, Stuart Binny, Shreyas Gopal, Jofra Archer, Jaydev Unadkat, Dhawal Kulkarni

. Delhi Capitals XI : Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Colin Ingram, Axar Patel, Sherfane Rutherford, Chris Morris, Amit Mishra, Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma

. 0.3 Sharma to Rahane, wider delivery, cut to point, dot ball

0.2 Sharma to Rahane, similar delivery, this time he leans on the drive and places it beautifully for FOUR!

0.1 Ishant Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane, good length, movement away, batsman tries to poke at it but misses, dot ball

. 0.6 Sharma to Rahane, down the leg side, flicked away but uppish, one run taken

0.5 Sharma to Rahane, swinging away, defended, no run

0.4 Sharma to Rahane, fuller length on off stump, Rahane nudges it forward, no run

. 1.1 Rabada to Rahane, good length ball, defended back, but Samson wants the single. Rabada quickly collects, turns around and smashes the stumps. Samson is gone without facing a ball!

. 1.4 Rabada to Rahane, glided to point, no run

1.3 Rabada to Rahane, shot! It was a tad fuller, and Rahane presents the full face to the bat to fetch FOUR!

1.2 Rabada to Rahane, good ball, tries to drive it forward but mistimes, no run taken

. 1.6 Rabada to Rahane, guided down thirdman for a single

1.5 Rabada to Rahane, right on the money again, steered to point again, no run

. 2.6 Patel to Smith, dances down the wicket and plays his vintage flick, straight to deep midwicket, one run

2.5 Patel to Rahane, swatted away to midwicket for a run

2.4 Patel to Steve Smith, angling in again, catches the inside edge and goes to mid on, one run

2.3 Patel to Rahane, clipped to mid on, one run

2.2 Patel to Rahane, he uses the lack of turn on the pitch to heave it over the leg side for four!

2.1 Axar Patel to Rahane, arm ball, defended with soft hands, no run

. 3.6 Sharma to Rahane, slower one, swing and a miss, very un-Rahane like slog, dot ball

3.5 Sharma to Smith, again hit down the ground without the best timing, Rabada does well on the line, threeruns

3.4 Sharma to Smith, fuller length, ball catches the inside half of the bat and just misses Rabada at mid on, FOUR runs!

3.3 Sharma to Smith, brilliant change-up, slower ball on the middle stump, Smith fails to find the connection, no run again

3.2 Sharma to Smith, back of a length, he searches for room and tries to carve open the inner field, but straight to point, no run

3.1 Sharma to Smith, good length outside off, Smith opens the face but straight to backward point, no run

. 4.6 Patel to Smith, single taken

4.5 Patel to Rahane, fuller length, hit down the ground, one run

4.4 Patel to Rahane, down the leg side, swept away fine for FOUR! Rahane is exercising a bit more freedom now

4.3 Patel to Rahane, steps down the track and deposits it way back! That is hit straight back, and that is HUGE!

4.2 Patel to Rahane, ISHANT SHARMA HAS DROPPED A SITTER! It was wide, and he tried to clear fine leg, but hit it straight down Sharma's throat, who then dropped it

4.1 Axar Patel to Smith, on the wicket, clipped away for a run

. 5.6 Rabada to Smith, shorter length, defended well, no run

5.5 Rabada to Rahane, again on the pads, takes a single

5.4 Rabada to Rahane, way down the leg side, Rahane tickles it away for FOUR!

5.3 Rabada to Rahane, full toss on middle and leg, clipped away in the gap for a couple

5.2 Rabada to Rahane, WOW! It was a quick delivery, but he has just flat-batted that over the bowler's head for SIX!

5.1 Rabada to Smith, angled in, flicked away to dee midwicket for a run

. 6.6 Mishra to Rahane, tucked to long on, one run

6.5 Mishra to Rahane, nudged on the leg side in between the gap for a couple of runs again, superb running

6.4 Mishra to Rahane, just tapped on the on side, but they run brilliantly to claim 2 runs

6.3 Mishra to Rahane, balls skids off the surface, googly, he's beaten

6.2 Mishra to Smith, slow and wide, Smith waits and slaps it to the offside for 1 run

6.1 Amit Mishra to Rahane, full and wide, he guides it to deep cover for a run

. 7.6 Morris to Smith, brilliant shot! He strays on to his pads, and Smith takes full advantage by placing it to perfection for FOUR!

7.5 Morris to Rahane, drifting on to the pads, one run to fine leg

7.5 Morris to Rahane, good bouncer, but called wide

7.4 Morris to Rahane, stamp of authority! There was nothing wrong with the delivery, but he just pulls it to deep midwicket for FOUR!

7.3 Morris to Smith, uses his wrists to the maximum extent to dish out the flick, one run

7.2 Morris to Smith, wider delivery, inside edge, no run.

7.1 Chris Morris to Rahane, good length outside off, punched through covers, one run

. 8.6 Mishra to Rahane, again tapped down the ground, they run two! This is brilliant, brilliant running

8.5 Mishra to Smith, slapped away past covers, single taken

8.4 Mishra to Smith, pulls the length back, Smith tries to cut fine but doesn't get past thirdman

8.3 Mishra to Smith, steps down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and clobbers it over midwicket for FOUR!

8.2 Mishra to Smith, slower through the air, he sweeps hard for a couple

8.1 Mishra to Rahane, easily placed for a run

. 9.5 Patel to Rahane, quick single taken

9.4 Patel to Rahane, down the leg side, punished! Four runs past fine leg

9.3 Patel to Rahane, chipped over cover again in the gap, two runs. These two have used the sixe of the field very well in order to churn out twos and threes.

9.2 Patel to Rahane, that is CLASS! He steps wide, goes inside out and finds the gap. Sublime piece of timing. FOUR runs!

9.1 Patel to Smith, almost side arm, hit down the ground for a run

. 10.6 Mishra to Rahane, pushed through covers, one run

10.5 Mishra to Smith, clipped away for a single

10.4 Mishra to Smith, steps down again but hits it straight back to the bowler

10.3 Mishra to Smith, HOW HAS HE MANAGED TO HIT THAT FOR FOUR! It was sohrter and wider, and he waited until the final second or so, and pierced the narrow gap between point and backward point, FOUR

10.2 Mishra to Smith, steps down the track, plays across the line and smashes it for FOUR! This man is so good with his wrist work.

10.1 Mishra to Rahane, patted away for a single

. 11.6Rutherford to Rahane, touched to third man but straight to him, no run

11.5Rutherford to Smith, single taken, this is sensational batting

11.5Rutherford to Smith, wide ball

11.4 Rutherford to Smith, outside off, Smith carves one past point for FOUR again!

11.3Rutherford to Smith, short ball, Smith puounces on it, hits it to the right of long on, no chance, FOUR!

11.2Rutherford to Smith, tickled fine for FOUR! It was way too straight, and Smith cashes in

11.1Rutherford to Rahane, slapped past the bowler, long on moppes up, one run

11.1 Rutherford to Rahane, wide ball

. 12.6 Morris to Smith, hit hard to mid off, one run, that's 50 for Smith!

12.5 Morris to Smith, straighter delivery, smacked hard to cover, no run

12.4 Morris to Rahane, ran down thirdman, one run

12.3 Morris to Rahane, FOUR! This time more traditional over long off, four runs!

12.2 Morris to Rahane, WHAT A SHOT! He just steps across and swats it away for four past fine leg!

12.1 Morris to Smith, moves across and plays it to the leg side, one run

. 13.6 Patel to Stokes, placed in the gap down the leg side, two runs

13.5 Patel to Stokes, short and wide, cut hard but straight to short cover, no run

13.4 Patel to Rahane, patted down the ground, one run

13.3 Patel to Stokes, flicked fine, one run

13.2 Patel to Stokes, defended calmly, no run

13.1 Patel to Smith, he's GONE! It was given a little more air, and Smith tried to go over cover, but his bat turned in his hands, and he found Chirs Morris at long off. A fine innings and partnership comes to an end.

. 14.6 Sharma to Rahane, full on the pads, clipped away for one

14.5 Sharma to Rahane, beautiful! It was a half volley, but he responded with all touch and timing. He pulls out the cover drive, FOUR runs!

14.4 Sharma to Stokes, he steps down the ground again, but this time its a fuller length delivery, crunched down the ground for one

14.3 Sharma to Stokes, shorter and straighter, hit to short midwicket, no run

14.2 Sharma to Stokes, gives himself room and slashes it down the ground, FOUR!

14.1 Sharma to Rahane, knuckle ball, he misses it, leg bye

. 15.6 Morris to Rahane, tapped with soft hands, single

15.5 Morris to Stokes, full toss, and he's GONE! Did not get the right connection, and Iyer at long on takes it comfortably

15.4 Morris around the wicket to Rahane, cut away crisply for a run, deep point does the job

15.3 Morris to Rahane, dot ball, better delivery

15.2 Morris to Rahane, shot! He's just flicked that with the sweetest of timing for FOUR! Poor delivery

15.1 Morris to Rahane, up and over covers in the gap, another couple taken

. 16.6 Sharma to Binny, outside off, missed

16.5 Sharma to Binny, full and straight, clipped away for two

16.4 Sharma to Ashton Turner, he just can't get off the mark! Turner is gone for a duck again! It was a well-executed slower one that held on the pitch, and he hit it straight to cover. Gone for a duck.

16.3 Sharma to Rahane, single taken, struck down leg side

16.2 Sharma to Rahane, tapped away to the leg side, he wants a two! And they get it! That's a 100 for Ajinkya Rahane. This has been an innings of pur timing, class and placement. Take a bow!

16.1 Sharma to Rahane, driven to left of long off for a couple, he's on 98 now!

. 18.6 Morris to Binny, missed the yorker, turns into a half volley, Binny smashes it over midwicket for four

18.5 Morris to Binny, excellent yorker, beats him, no run

18.4 Morris to Binny, good length, just above the stump height, Binny goes for the big slog but misses

18.3 Morris to Binny, full toss, heaped away to the midwicket boundary, two runs taken

18.2 Morris to Rahane, low full toss, goes through his shot, one run to long off

18.1 Morris to Binny, yorker, tucked awya to square leg for one

. 19.6 Rabada to Parag, full toss, he misses, the woodwork is disturbed, Rabada gets his second!

19.5 Rabada to Parag, four runs! He just uses the pace to glide it past deep square for four!

19.4Rabada to Parag, dot ball, tried something innovative but missed

19.3Rabada to Binny, that's the brightest sight for a fast bowler. 149 km/hr, in the blockhole, middle stupm out of the ground! Binny is gone!

19.3 Rabada to Binny, wide ball

19.2 Rabada to Binny, full length, slammed to midwicket for two

19.1 Rabada to Rahane, short ball, just short of square, one run

. 4.6 Archer to Shaw, slower ball, bakc of a length, batsman tries to get the pull shot out but doesn't time it well, one run nonethless

4.5 Archer to Dhawan, short ball, rises, Dhawan right on top of it as he guides it down thirdman for a single

4.4 Archer to Shaw, easily runs it down for a run

4.3 Archer to Sghaw, firmly struck but straight to the point fielder

4.2 Archer to Dhawan, good comeback, better line, touch and run from Dhawan

4.1 Jofra Archer to Dhawan, clobbered away over midwicket, sweep shot, four!

. 5.6 Kulkarni to Dhawan, pulled to short fine, one run

5.5 Kulkarni to Dhawan, this time it's all muscle! He's swatted that over midwicket for four!

5.4 Kulkarni to Dhawan, cheeky, the paddle sweep comes out, FOUR!

5.3 Kulkarni to Dhawan, dot ball, good length,

5.2 Kulkarni to Shaw, dropped by Ashton Turner, who is having an absolute howler! Shaw top edged a similar delivery, and it was one of the easiest catches

5.1 Kulkarni to Shaw, bakc of a length, Shaw gets on top of the bounce and clears short midwicket, FOUR runs!

. 7.5-7.6 Gopal to Shaw, he finishes the over extremely well, with a couple of dots

7.4 Gopal to Iyer, he's off the mark with a run, good ball first up to him

7.3 Gopal to Dhawan, he's GONE! Clever bowling from Gopal, he saw him coming out and bowled it wide, stumped by Samson

7.2 Gopal to Dhawan, hammered on the leg side for a FOUR! Anything a touch short, and Dhawan's at it

7.1 Gopal to Shaw, short and on middle stump, pulled away for a run

. 8.6 Parag to Pant, short ball, smashed to deep midwicket but straight to the fielder, one run

8.5 Parag to Iyer, he's got the big wicket! Iyer has found Ben Stokes on the boundary while trying t oup the rate. The change works for Steve Smith and co.

8.4 Parag to Iyer, tucked away and 2 runs taken

8.3 Parag to Iyer, hit straight to short midwicket, dot ball

8.2 Parag to Shaw, nudged to long on for a run

8.1 Parag to Iyer, chopped away to point for a run

. 9.6 Archer to Pant, chipped to midwicket, one run

9.5 Archer to Pant, bouncer, he ducks, no run

9.4 Archer to Shaw, good length outside off, opens the face to thirdman, one run

9.3 Archer to Pant, full length again, clipped away, one run

9.2 Archer to Pant, pitched on good length, nips back off the surace, he's beaten

9.1 Archer to Pant, dot ball, yorker length, can't get it away

. 10.6 Parag to Pant, outside off this time, mistimed straight to short cover, no run

10.5 Parag to Pant, short ball again, and it receives the treatment, FOUR runs!

10.4 Parag to Pant, plays it to deep midwicket in the gap, two runs

10.3 Parag to Pant, length remains the same but it's on this pads, FOUR runs!

10.2 Parag to Shaw, slogged over mdiwicket but only for the single

10.1 Parag to Pant, pushed to midwicket, one run

. Delhi Capitals require another 84 runs with 8 wickets and 48 balls remaining

. Delhi Capitals require another 72 runs with 8 wickets and 42 balls remaining

. Delhi Capitals require another 60 runs with 8 wickets and 36 balls remaining.

13.6 Kulkarni to Pant, slapped away on the off side to deep cover, two taken, DC are taking full control of the game here

13.5 Kulkarni to Pant, four over sqaure leg! That was a little too short and slow

13.4 Kulkarni to Shaw, punches towards cover, one run

13.3 Kulkarni to Pant, clipped off his pads again, this time not a two, one run taken

13.2 Kulkarni to Pant, pace off, taps it to the left of long on, they take two again, sensible fron Pant

13.1 Kulkarni to Pant, on the leg side, push for two, and they get it

. Delhi Capitals require another 50 runs with 8 wickets and 30 balls remaining.

14.6 Unadkat to Pant, single

14.5 Unadkat to Shaw, fifth stump line, slower ball, slapped to long off, one run

14.4 Unadkat to Pant, slower ball bouncer, hooked away, just short of fine leg, one run

14.3 Unadkat to Pant, tucked away on the leg side, better delivery, easy two taken

14.2 Unadkat to Pant, pace off, dispatched for four! There's the fall-over pull shot over fine leg

14.1 Unadkat to Shaw, smashed past the bowler, one run

. Delhi Capitals require another 41 runs with 8 wickets and 24 balls remaining.

15.6 Archer to Shaw, the bails light up again, AGAIN!, but they don't come off. He's bowled, but not quite.

15.5 Archer to Pant, sensible, mature batting. He's tapped it and got off strike

15.4 Archer to Pant, he's picked that from nowhere! It was full, but he sent it over fine leg for FOUR!

15.3 Archer to Shaw, guided to backward point for a run

15.2 Archer to Shaw, brilliant slower ball, straight to cover, no run

15.1 Archer to Pant, full and straight, flicked for a run

. Delhi Capitals require another 30 runs with 7 wickets and 18 balls remaining.

16.6 Gopal to Rutherford, drifting in, catches the outside edge of the bat, no run

16.5 Gopal to Pant, gets off strike with a fine-tuned shot to midwicket

16.4 Gopal to Shaw, that was brave, that was flighted, and that is out! He's not got hold of that, and found long on!

16.3 Gopal to Shaw, he goes for a big six but misses

16.2 Gopal to Pant, goes for the big hoike, but inside edge on to fine leg, one run

16.1 FREE HIT ball, he' just timed that and sent it for four down the ground!

16.1 Gopal to Pant NO BALL + FOUR! That was above his waist, and on to the pads, poor bowling

. Delhi Capitals require another 17 runs with 6 wickets and 12 balls remaining

17.6 Kulkarni to Rutherford, he's GONE! It was short and slow, and he's mistimed that, lands to long off

17.5 Kulkarni to Rutherford, wider ball, smashed away past cover for four! That has been crunched!

17.4 Kulkarni to Pant, slow, short and wide, out of Pant's strong zone, he slaps it away for one

17.3 Kulkarni to Rutherford, hit to point, one run taken

17.2 Kulkarni to Rutherford, he slogs over midwicket, and it's just over! SIX! That's valiant from the young man!

17.1 Kulkarni to Pant, low full toss, he sweeps, they take two

. Delhi Capitals require another 6 runs with 6 wickets and 6 balls remaining.

18.6 Archer to Pant, he's gone straight and that's over the ropes! He's almost done it for DC! What a fabulous strike!

18.5 Archer to Ingram, one run, hit to mid off for a run

18.4 Archer to Pant, slower ball bouncer, he's slogged it away, two misfields in the deep allow three runs. This is poor from the hosts.

18.3 Archer to Ingram, perfect yorker on middle stupm, he gets it away to point for a run

18.2 Archer to Ingram, full, jammed in, he hits it straight back to the bowler, dot ball

18.1 Archer to Ingram, swing and a miss

. That's all from me, Akarshak Roy , hope you enjoyed the coverage of this nail-biting fixture. Until then, good bye.

19.2 Unadkat to Pant, SIX! It's all over!

19.1 Unadkat to Ingram, cut away to thirdman, one run

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Highlights: RR v DC | Pant crushes RR hopes

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