Led by Axar Patel, Delhi Capitals returned to the winning track with a dramatic, last-over triumph over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Bengaluru on Saturday. KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs struck half-centuries, and David Miller wrapped up the chase with a composed burst of hitting as Delhi chased down 176, finishing 179/4 to win by four wickets. The result lifted DC into fourth place, while RCB’s campaign remained strong but dented by a narrow defeat.
Key takeaways
- Delhi Capitals chased 176 successfully, winning by four wickets with one ball remaining.
- KL Rahul contributed 57 off 34 balls and Tristan Stubbs made 60 not out (off 47) to anchor the run chase.
- RCB managed 175/8 batting first, with Phil Salt top-scoring on 63 off 38.
- David Miller finished the job with 22 not out from 10 balls, including two consecutive sixes in the final over.
- DC moved to fourth in the standings with three wins and two losses (six points), while RCB stayed second with four wins and two losses (eight points).
- Axar Patel had cramps during the innings, eventually walking off after consulting the physio.
RCB set 176, but Salt carried the weight
Royal Challengers Bengaluru were sent in first and could only reach 175/8 in their 20 overs. Phil Salt was the standout performer, striking 63 off 38 balls with seven boundaries and three maximums, while wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel picked up two wickets each to keep Delhi in the contest.
DC’s chase: pressure early, momentum later
In response to 176, Delhi got off to a shaky start and slumped to 18/3 within 2.5 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was central to that early damage, trapping Pathum Nissanka for 1 on the fourth ball, then removing Karun Nair (5) and Sameer Rizvi (2). Phil Salt and wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma also took sharp chances, leaving DC in trouble.
Rahul steadied the chase in the fifth over by striking Josh Hazlewood for 14 runs, including a six and two fours. By the end of the powerplay, Delhi were 50/3 after six overs. In the eighth over, Rahul added two more boundaries off Suyash Sharma and helped form a 50-run partnership in 29 balls.
As the chase progressed, Rahul continued to find gaps and reached his second half-century of the season in 30 balls. At the halfway mark, DC were 87/3, with Rahul on 57 not out and Stubbs on 18 not out.
Krunal Pandya broke the stand early in the second half, dismissing Rahul for 57 off 34 balls. Virat Kohli held a brilliant diving catch at long-on to make it 87/4 in 10.1 overs. From there, Axar Patel began positively with a boundary, and along with Stubbs, helped DC pass the 100-run mark in 11.5 overs. Rasikh Dar Salam’s 13th over eased the pressure as the pair struck three fours.
After 14 overs, Delhi were 130/4, with Stubbs on 36 not out and Axar on 24 not out. RCB then tightened things up effectively, restricting DC to just 14 runs across overs 15 to 17.
Despite the strong recovery, there was a moment of concern for Delhi when Axar Patel was forced to walk off due to cramps. He had scored 26 off 19 balls, including three fours, before getting assistance from Ashutosh Sharma and receiving support during the stoppage, with Krunal Pandya also seen helping at the break. Stubbs, meanwhile, ended a 24-ball stretch without a boundary by smashing Bhuvneshwar for a six in the 18th over and brought up his half-century in 41 balls.
With two overs remaining, DC required 25 runs, and Stubbs and Miller stayed at the crease. They took 10 runs off Rasikh’s penultimate over, setting up the final set of 15 needed off the last over. Romario Shepherd bowled the last over, and after singles on the first two deliveries, Miller struck two successive sixes and then added a four to seal the chase with a ball to spare.
Delhi finished on 179/4 in 19.5 overs. Stubbs remained unbeaten on 60 not out off 47 balls, while Miller closed the match with 22 not out off 10.
How the match unfolded: wickets, totals, and key spells
Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered the most impactful spell for RCB, taking 3/26. Krunal Pandya was also among the more effective bowlers with figures of 1/24, though Delhi’s chase ultimately proved too strong to defend the target.
Earlier in the innings, RCB began positively, with Phil Salt and Virat Kohli adding 52 runs for the opening wicket. Kohli scored 19 before being dismissed by Lungi Ngidi, while Salt continued to anchor the innings. Devdutt Padikkal contributed 18 off 13 balls before falling to Axar Patel. Salt completed his half-century in 30 balls and eventually finished with 63 off 38, before Kuldeep Yadav removed him.
RCB lost momentum through the middle overs, and even with contributions from Tim David (26) and Krunal Pandya, their innings folded to 175/8. For Delhi, Kuldeep Yadav (2/32), Axar Patel (2/18) and Lungi Ngidi (2/39) shared the majority of wickets, while Mukesh Kumar chipped in with one.
