A boundary-less powerplay for RR saw them score the lowest of this season

One of the most dominating sides in the Indian Premier League 2021, Delhi Capitals, are among the favorites to lift the coveted title after winning eight out of their ten league matches. On a bright and sunny afternoon at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, they produced an all-around performance to dismantle the Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs in the much-anticipated clash.

After being asked to bat first, Delhi got off to a horrendous start in the powerplay. They lost the opening combination of Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw early in the innings and were reeling at 21 for the loss of two wickets before Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant steadied the innings. The right-hander displayed an array of strokes all around the ground and top-scored for the side with a well compiled 43.

With valuable contributions from skipper and Shimron Hetmyer, DC posted 154/6 in their allotted quota of 20 overs. In reply, a clinical performance with the ball led by Anrich Nortje guided DC to a comprehensive 33-run win and top the table with 16 points. Sanju Samson led a lone battle, but his unbeaten knock of 70 wasn’t enough. Here are some of the notable stats from the game:

Prithvi Shaw's horror run at UAE continues

The swashbuckling opening batter amassed 308 runs in the first seven league matches of the tournament held in Indian earlier this year. However, Shaw has struggled to find his mojo in the United Arab Emirates and failed to put on a substantial score in the two encounters. The 21-year old accounted for a dismal IPL 2020 season and started this edition with a string of two low scores. Shaw has struggled to adapt to the changing situations and has scored 70 runs in the last ten innings in UAE. Despite the talent and the skill set he exhibits, lack of runs at the top of the order resulted in his exclusion from the playing XI last season.

Capitals dismantle Rajasthan in the powerplay

Delhi has a formidable bowling unit with the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Nortje and Kagiso Rabada in the playing XI. The new ball attack of Avesh Khan and Nortje ripped through the top order of Rajasthan, courtesy of some accurate bowling inside the field restrictions. Both the openers, Liam Livingstone (0.6) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (1.1) were back in the hut on back-to-back deliveries. The off-spinner then followed this up with a peach to dismiss David Miller and derail the Royals in the run chase. By losing three wickets, Rajasthan scored 21 runs in the powerplay, the joint lowest this season. Mumbai against Punjab earlier this year in Chennai lost a solitary wicket and scored 21 on the board.

Ashwin showcases his white-ball prowess

One of the most experienced off-spinners in world cricket, Ashwin became the third Indian bowler to scalp 250 wickets in the shortest format of the game. The 35-year old achieved this feat after he picked up the wicket of Miller courtesy of a stumping. Interestingly, Ashwin's Delhi team-mate, Amit Mishra and Piyush Chawla lead the table with 262 wickets.

No boundary scored in the field restriction

The Capitals showcased immense skills and discipline in their line and length with the new ball to stifle the Royals by picking up three wickets in the powerplay. After reeling at 17/3, Rajasthan began to consolidate the innings and see off the new ball. Mahipal Lomror and skipper Sanju Samson took the side to 21/3 in the first six overs. With runs hard to come by and wicket tumbling at the other end, this innings was only the third instance in the history of the league without a boundary scored in the field restriction.The first occasion was back in 2009, featuring Rajasthan against Bangalore at Cape Town. The second instance was between the Super Kings and the Knight Riders in 2011.

NOTE: STATS UPDATED TILL MATCH 36 - DC vs RR