Riyan Parag scored a magnificent unbeaten 83 as Rajasthan Royals defeated Delhi Capitals by 12 runs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday.
After being asked to bat first, Rajasthan suffered an massive blow by losing Yashasvi Jaiswal bowled by Mukesh Kumar for 5. Skipper Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler departed cheaply as the Royals were in spot of bother at 36/3.
However Parag along with Ravi Ashwin featured in a 54 run stand for the fourth wicket before the latter perished to Axar Patel for 29.
Riyan Parag (84)* in the end smashed Nortje for 26 runs in his final over to take RR to 185/5 in their 20 overs.
In response, Delhi openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh got their side off to a steady start. The duo added 30 runs for the opening stand before Nandre Burger struck twice- first by cleaning up Mitchell Marsh (23) and then dismissing Ricky Bhui with a bouncer for a duck.
The pair of Warner and skipper Rishabh Pant added 67 runs for the third wicket stand before the former fell to a brilliant catch by Sandeep Sharma off Avesh Khan for 49.
Yuzvendra Chahal then struck a body blow by claiming the prize scalp of skipper Pant caught behind while attempting a cut.
Tristan Stubbs (44)* fought hard in the end but failed to take Capitals past the finishing line as they ended up with 173/5, thereby falling 12 run short of the target.
Rajasthan Royals 185 for 5 (Parag 84, Ashwin 29, Axar 1-21, Khaleel 1-24) beat Delhi Capitals 173 for 5 (Warner 49, Stubbs 44*, Chahal 2-19, Burger 2-29) by 12 runs
