Australian paceman Mitchell Starc led the Delhi Capitals to a nail-biting win over the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, securing the victory in a super over.
Starc’s exceptional performance in the final over, conceding just eight runs, pushed the game into the super over, as Rajasthan concluded their innings at 4-188, matching Delhi’s score of 5-188.
During the super over, two run-outs restricted Rajasthan to a mere 2-11, while Lokesh Rahul and Tristan Stubbs capitalised on Sandeep Sharma’s opening deliveries, scoring 13 runs and leading Delhi to the top of the table with five victories from six matches.
“I believed that if Mitch could nail his execution, we would be in with a chance,” Axar Patel commented following the match.
“He delivered nearly 12 yorkers. That’s the hallmark of an Australian legend.”
Mitchell Starc of Delhi Capitals runs out Yashasvi Jaiswal of Rajasthan Royals. Getty
“I think he only misfired on one delivery in terms of execution. The field changes, yet he maintained his focus.”
Rajasthan now has a significant task ahead as they fell to eighth place with just two wins out of seven matches.
It appeared that Rajasthan was in command of their chase until Starc delivered a pinpoint yorker to Nitish Rana (51) in the 18th over, trapping the half-century maker leg before wicket.
Starc continued his excellent bowling with four more yorkers in the final over, and with two runs required on the last ball, Dhruv Jurel drove Starc towards mid-wicket but was run out attempting to secure the winning run.
Rajasthan encountered an injury concern when their skipper Sanju Samson exited the field due to a side strain after providing a rapid start alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal (51).
Samson grimaced in pain after hitting three sixes and two fours in his brisk innings of 31 runs off 19 balls, leaving the field in the sixth over with Rajasthan well-positioned at 0-61.
Delhi’s Patel finally captured his first wicket of the season, clean-bowling Riyan Parag for 12, while Jaiswal was dismissed shortly thereafter, caught at long-on after reaching his third half-century of the season.
Delhi Capitals’ Mitchell Starc celebrates with teammates. AP
Patel should have claimed Rana on 20 in the 15th over, but Stubbs dropped a straightforward catch at long-on, allowing Rana to further reduce the target with a six and a four off Kuldeep Yadav in the following over.
Nonetheless, Starc delivered an impressive return spell filled with yorkers and ultimately pushed the match into the super over.
For his outstanding performance, he was awarded the man of the match.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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