NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals sealed a six-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Saturday, turning the chase with a late surge from David Miller. The South African struck two sixes in the final over, finishing the job after KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs had laid a solid foundation on a slow Chinnaswamy surface.
Chasing 176: DC reach 179/4
Delhi Capitals were set 176 and completed the chase with 179 for four. Miller, who ended unbeaten on 22 off just 10 balls, had previously come under scrutiny earlier in the season for failing to close out a match against Gujarat Titans. This time, he stayed till the end and delivered when it mattered most.
- Target: 176
- Result: Delhi Capitals won by 6 wickets
- Chase: DC finished on 179/4
- Miller: 22 not out (10 balls), including two sixes in the last over
With Romario Shepherd defending in the final over and 15 runs required, Miller struck twice over the ropes to flip the equation and bring the match to a close with one ball remaining.
Key partnerships and momentum swing
DC had a shaky start, losing three wickets during the powerplay. However, the chase regained control through Rahul, Stubbs and a significant recovery phase involving Axar Patel.
- KL Rahul: 57 off 34 balls, including the key acceleration phase
- Tristan Stubbs: 60 not out off 47 balls
- Axar Patel: 26 runs before retiring hurt
Rahul took charge after the early collapse, attacking Josh Hazlewood for two sixes and three fours. He reached his fifty in 30 balls, but his knock ended when he was dismissed by Krunal Pandya, with Virat Kohli holding the catch at long-on.
After DC were 18 for three in just 2.5 overs, Rahul and Stubbs stitched together a 69-run fourth-wicket partnership. Then Stubbs and Axar added 47 more, pushing the required rate down before Axar retired hurt. By the time DC were 134 for four in 15.5 overs, they still needed 45 off 25 balls, but Stubbs and Miller completed the chase efficiently to finish with one delivery left.
RCB innings: 175/8 after being invited to bat
Earlier, Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted 175 for eight in their allotted overs. Phil Salt top-scored with 63, while Kohli contributed 19 as RCB built momentum through a 52-run opening stand.
- RCB score: 175/8
- Top scorer: Phil Salt (63)
- Kohli: 19
- Powerplay: RCB were 59/1 after five overs
Salt made his way to a fifty off 30 balls, and the partnership with Devdutt Padikkal brought another 47 runs. Padikkal was dismissed by Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav then had Salt caught by Stubbs, leaving RCB at 105 for three.
Rajat Patidar and Tim David contributed some runs, but Patidar was caught behind off Mukesh Kumar and David was removed by Axar. RCB were 99 for two after 10 overs, yet they managed only 76 runs in the final 10 overs, finishing just short of the 176 needed for victory.
Delhi’s bowling highlights
Delhi Capitals made early inroads as the innings progressed. Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a major role with figures of 3/26, removing Pathum Nissanka, Karun Nair and Sameer Rizvi. His wickets helped keep RCB under pressure, setting up DC’s path to the chase.
