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Kagiso Rabada and Shikhar Dhawan
Ravichandran Ashwin won his last battle with Jos Buttler of England one season after their ugly ‘Mankading’ showdown as Capitals of Delhi inflicted a fourth consecutive Indian Premier League defeat at Rajasthan Royals to return to the top of the table.
SCORECARD | Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Capitals
Last year’s game between the two was dominated by the sportsmanship feud that erupted after Ashwin bailed out on the bowler’s end when Buttler strayed too far from his line in pursuit of a career.
There was no replay in the new clash, but Ashwin reclaimed Buttler’s window as his team took a 46-race victory in the sweltering Sharjah heat.
This time Buttler couldn’t complain. He was one of a host of hitters from Rajasthan to give away their homelands cheaply in the latest disappointment for captain Steve Smith.
Buttler didn’t risk backing down during Ashwin’s bowling. When he faced the Indian off-roader, Buttler looked for a big shot but sent the ball to Shikhar Dhawan, who made a dive catch on the square leg.
Ashwin took a great leap of celebration. “Getting that wicket from Jos was important,” he said after the game.
Despite the sports controversy caused by his stunt last year, Ashwin had given a “final” warning before the game that he would do it again.
Both sides were probably relieved that Ashwin, who was named Man of the Match, never got the chance. But according to Ashwin, Delhi coach Ricky Ponting has approached the International Cricket Council to change the rules of Mankading so that a batsman can be punished without being out.
With Buttler out, Rajasthan gave away land easily and never seemed able to match Delhi’s 184 in eight of 20 overs. All were out of 138 in 19.4 overs.
Smith, who won the toss and chose to hit second, made an attempt 24 before being caught by Delhi’s batting hero Shimron Hetmyer at Anrich Nortje’s fiery bowling alley. Rahul Tweatia made 38 and starter Yashasvi Jaiswal 34, but no one else goes into double figures.
Proteas star bowler hat Kagiso rabada He continued to perform for the Capitals when he finished three-for-35.
Smith said Rajasthan must now “turn things around quickly” and face pressure to bring England star Ben Stokes directly to the team for Sunday’s next game.
Stokes is finishing his quarantine after being late to be with his sick father in New Zealand. Smith admitted that the SUV lacks practice.
The 23-year-old Hetmyer made 45 of 24 balls, including five sixes, as the Capitals strengthened their credentials as surprise title contenders.
Now they are again ahead of the reigning champions Mumbai Indians with five wins in six games. Rajasthan is stuck in seventh place out of eight teams with just two wins.
West Indies great hitter Hetmyer put on his most impressive performance of the tournament so far to keep up the momentum after Australian Marcus Stoinis made 39, including four sixes, and captain Shreyas Iyer made 22.
He was dominating the Rajasthan bowlers in the empty stadium and was looking to take his team past 200 against the 19-year-old middle pacemaker Kartik Tyagi.
Hetmyer hit two sixes in a row off the teenager at 17 before being caught by Tewatia in a big third strike.
