Aussie bowler Mitchell Starc inspired table-toppers Delhi Capitals to a tense victory in the super over against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.
Starc forced the game into the super over with a brilliant eight-run 20th over as Rajasthan finished at 4-188 in reply to Delhi’s 5-188.
Two run-outs in Starc’s super over limited Rajasthan to 2-11 before Lokesh Rahul and Tristan Stubbs smashed Sandeep Sharma’s first four balls for 13 runs and took Delhi on top of the points table with five wins from six games.
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“I was thinking if Mitch can execute, we will be in this,” Axar Patel said after the win.
“He bowled almost 12 yorkers. That’s why he is such an Australian legend.
Mitchell Starc of Delhi Capitals runs out to Yashasvi Jaiswal of Rajasthan Royals. Getty
“I guess he missed only one ball as far as execution was concerned. The field was changed but he kept at it.”
Rajasthan has plenty to catch-up as they dropped to No.8 with just two wins from seven games.
Rajasthan seemed to have controlled the chase until Starc nailed a perfect yorker to half century-maker Nitish Rana (51) in the 18th over and had the left-hander plumb leg before wicket.
Starc bowled four more yorkers in the final over and with two needed on the final ball, Dhruv Jurel drove Starc to mid-wicket but got run out while going for the winning run.
Rajasthan had an injury scare when their captain Sanju Samson walked off with a side strain after he had provided a brisk start with Yashasvi Jaiswal (51).
Samson clutched his left side in pain after hitting three sixes and two boundaries in his 19-ball knock of 31 balls as he walked off in the sixth over with Rajasthan cruising to 0-61.
Delhi captain Patel finally got his first wicket of the season when he clean bowled Riyan Parag for 12 and Jaiswal holed out at long-on soon after completing his third half century of the season.
Delhi Capitals’ Mitchell Starc celebrates with teammates. AP
Patel should have dismissed Rana on 20 in the 15th over but Stubbs dropped a sitter at long-on before Rana eased the target by smashing Kuldeep Yadav for a six and a four in the next over.
However, Starc turned the tide in his return spell with flurry of yorkers and pushed the game into the super over.
He was named man of the match.
