Delhi Capitals moved to the top of the table, by pulling off an emphatic win against the Rajasthan Royals at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Delhi Capitals started disastrously by losing young Prithvi Shaw of the very first delivery of the innings to Jofra Archer with a beautiful in swinger for a duck.
An over later Ajinkya Rahane was caught at mid on by Robin Uthappa off Archer for 2.
The pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer stitched together a 85 run stand for the the third wicket, before the former was caught at short third man by Kartik Tyagi off leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal for 57.
Skipper Iyer upped the scoring rate by smashing Jaydev Unadkat for 17 runs which included two sixes, and in the process reached his half century off 40 balls. But soon after Iyer was caught at long-off by Archer off Kartik Tyagi while trying to go for another big hit.
Marcus Stoinis along with Alex Carey scored some handy runs in the end, as Delhi Capitals ended up with 161/7 at the end of their allotted 20 overs.
Jofra Archer was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/19, while Unadkat ended up with 2 wickets.
Chasing 162, RR started brilliantly with Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes adding 37 runs for the opening stand, before Anrich Nortje castled Buttler in the third over for a breezy 22.
Steve Smith’s struggle in IPL continued as he was caught and bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin.
The pair of Stokes and Sanju Samson took Rajasthan in a comfortable position, before both batsmen were sent back to the pavilion within the space of two overs.
Riyan Parag failed to get going, as he was needlessly run out by Axar Patel.
Uthappa kept the scoreboard ticking with a 27-ball 32, before Nortje removed him with a brilliant yorker for 32.
Rahul Tewatia and Jofra Archer tried their best, but some brilliant death bowling from Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and debutant Tushar Deshpande sealed the deal for Delhi Capitals, as they won by 13 runs.
Anrich Nortje was declared the Man of the Match.