MUMBAI, April 16: Dinesh Karthik batted with authority in his unbeaten 34-ball 66 before the bowlers staged a fine comeback as Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Delhi Capitals by 16 runs in the Indian Premier League here on Saturday.
Karthik blazed away after Glenn Maxwell hit seven fours and two sixes in his 55 off 34 deliveries to take RCB to 189 for five.
In reply, the Capitals could only manage 173 for seven despite David Warner’s sensational 38-ball 66.
It was RCB’s fourth win in six games and they are now third on the points table while Delhi slumped to their third loss in five outings.
Chasing 190, DC were off to a flier with Warner and young Prithvi Shaw (16) pummelling the RCB bowlers into submission, the duo racing to 50 before Mohammed Siraj dismissed the Indian.
Warner was then joined by compatriot Mitchell March, who was playing his first match for the Capitals. The 35-year-old Warner’s innings brought to an end by Wanindu Hasaranga.
The Australian’s wicket signalled a shift in momentum as RCB made a strong comeback with Delhi losing a flurry of wickets.
Delhi’s hopes were pinned on the big-hitting Pant (34), who did hit some lusty blows, but his whirlwind innings was brought to an end by a one-handed blinder from Virat Kohli.
Shardul and Axar Patel managed to play some big shots but the RCB bowlers had other plans as DC fell short.
Earlier, the Capitals’ bowlers performed as a well-oiled unit initially with Shardul Thakur (1/27), Khaleel Ahmed (1/36), Axar Patel (1/29) and Kuldeep Yadav (1/46) doing well but bled runs in the slog overs as Karthik and Shahbaz Ahmed (32*) added 74 in the last five.
DC made use of the coin landing in their favour as they put pressure on RCB early on with tight fielding and good bowling.
The Delhi bowlers managed to snare two wickets in the powerplay overs while giving away 40 runs before the onslaught began. (PTI)
