IPL: Delhi Capitals beat KKR by 18 runs

Delhi Capitals defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 18 runs in Sharjah on Saturday. 

Delhi Capitals 228-4 (20 ovs) vs KKR 210-8 (20 ovs) | Scorecard

Rabada comes to bowl 18th over, Morgan welcomes him with a huge huge six. That lands on the roof. Another huge six! KKR looks to be back into the match. Its raining sixes for KKR. Exactly what they need. Rabada has been hit for three consecutive sixes! In last nine balls, KKR has accumulated 42 run. Bowls his trusted yorker and just a single for Morgan. Tripathi on strike, edge and given out caught behind. Pant takes clean catch. Tripathi has reviewed it. He looked confident as it had missed his bat. Tripathi survives. Mis-field and that's a boundary. 

Rabada comes to bowl, Tripathi sends the ball to extras cover for a single. Morgan makes room and hammers a boundary. He backs that with a six! It went through the hands of substitute fielder Ajinkya Rahane. Three more singles from the over. 

Nortje is back into the attack. Cummins edges the ball over the keeper for a boundary. Cummins beaten. Wicket!  Cummins gets a thick edge and Harshal Patel takes a low catch at third man. Cummins gone for 5 from 4 balls. Tripathi is the new batsman. Morgan slams a huge six. He follows it with two quick singles. Sends the last ball down the wicket for a single. 

Delhi Capitals 228-4 (20 ovs) vs Kolkata Knight Riders 118-5 (13 ovs)

Rabada comes back as soon as Russell comes out to bat. The big man defends. Russell then sends the ball down the ground for a boundary. Quick short ball from Rabada, Russell has no answer. Russell sends the next delivery over Rabada's head for a huge six. 

Mishra continues, Gill sweeps a skier, gets top edge and goes high up and into the safe hands to Pant. Mishra strikes! Gill departs scoring 28 from 22 balls. Andre Russell comes in to bat now, he is promoted up the order. And he is off the mark with a single. Rana pushes the ball towards leg for a single. Russell pushed the ball to deep extra cover for a single. But this is a no-ball. Rana slams the free-hit for a six! He then steals a single. Amit Mishra hurt his finger when he dropped a catch earlier off his own bowling. Physio is getting a look at it. Russel moves his arms but just a single off that delivery. 

Veteran spinner Amit Mishra comes to bowl. Gill misses the first ball. Gill punches the ball to long on for a single. Dropped! A difficult catch but Mishra puts it down. Life line for Rana Two dot balls. Single to end the over. Good over for DC. Just two runs off it.  

Marcus Stoinis is in attack now. Rana takes a quick single. Gill slams another boundary. Three more singles come from the over. Dot ball to end the over. 

Spin comes in. Ashwin comes back after injury. Gill manages a single. Rana on strike, slip for him. Rana sweeps it for a huge six! Rana cuts straight to cover-point fielder, no runs. Gets a single over leg side. Gill sends the ball to mid wicket for a single. Rana ends the over with a cracker! Six runs over long-on. 

KKR continue to open with Sunil Narine and Shubhman Gill. Rabada to bowl the first over for DC.

Delhi Capitals 228-4 (20 ovs) vs Kolkata Knight Riders  

Varun comes back into the attack. Iyer hammers a boundary between long-on and deep midwicket. He takes two quick singles. Iyer is on fire now, hammers a six over extra cover! Iyer beaten but manages a single. Stoinis is finally off the mark with a single. Iyer hammers another huge huge six. 

KKR look to Cummins to break this Pant-Iyer partnership. Yorker and Iyer welcomes him with a six over the mid wicket boundary. Just gets a single off the next. Pant flicks the ball to deep cover for a single. Iyer is on fire, four runs towards short fine. Another four runs! Finds gap between  mid-off and extra cover! Single to end the over. 

Karthik persists with Nagarkoti. Pant gets a single. Iyer punches the ball to deep mid wicket for two quick singles. Down the ground and single for Iyer. Pant punches away for a single. Yorker from Nagarkoti and Iyer gets a single. Two back-to-back wides from Nagarkoti. Is trying to bowl with extra pace pressurising him? Single to end the over. After 15 overs DC 151-2. Iyer batting on 47 (25), Pant batting on 10 (8). 

Shaw punishes Nagarkoti's full toss with a six. He then flicks it to long on for a single. Iyer gets no room but manages to send it to leg side for a single. Nagarkoti strikes! Shaw couldn't find the distance and Shubhman Gill takes a splendid catch at long on. Shaw departs for 66 from 41 balls. He would be disappointed. He was looking good to go all the way.  Rishabh Pant is the new batsman. Iyer takes a single and puts Pant on strike now. He is off to a start with a single which could have been costly. Pant was short by miles has the ball hit the target.  

Kamlesh Nagarkoti  is the new bowler. Shaw punches outside leg for a single. Iyer slams the ball to deep midwicket for a single. Slower delivery and gets punished. Shaw sends the ball for maximum and brings up his fifty in style. Shaw sends the yorker to deep midwicket for a single. Iyer goes after Nagarkoti now and hammers him for a six! Single to end the over. 

Russell continues, he gets swing, Shaw misses. Gets more swing but Shaw manages a single. Shreyas punches the ball to leg side for a single. Shaw defends and sends the next ball down the wicket for a single. Shaw is hit on the foot by the throw from KKR. He looks in pain. Shreyas leaves the last ball of the over. 

Change in bowling. Andre Russell comes to bowl. Shaw pulls it off to deep mid wicket for a single. Slower ball and Shreyas leaves it. Shreyas flicks the ball to covers and steals a quick single. Shaw punches the ball to deep midwicket for a single. Skipper Shreyas sends the ball to third man for another single Yorker to end the over, no runs taken. 

More spin. Sunil Narine is here. Shaw steals a single. Dhawan sweeps and ball goes for a huge six. Another six sun! He is quick to steal a single. Big appeal for LBW, umpire not interested. Prithvi flicks the ball to long on for a single. Fifty comes up for DC. 

Cummins continues, Shaw tries to come down the wicket but misses. He then flicks one down the ground for a single. Dhawan steals a single. Slip is removed, Shaw opens his arms and plays a shot. Four runs to Shaw. He goes after the short ball and this time it goes over the covers for a maximum. Single to end the over. 

Delhi Capitals 16-0 (2 ovs) vs Kolkata Knight Riders  

Playing XI 

De Villiers picks a single from the first ball before Kohli comes down the track and lofts it over the off-side as it falls just short of Gopal rushing in from long-off to get him three runs.

Three more singles from the last three balls as seven come from the over.

Just one run needed from the final over.

Curran bowls a full toss which de Villiers hits through mid-on for a four to take RCB to victory.

RCB cruise to an emphatic eight-wicket victory to jump to the top of the IPL standings, with three wins from four matches.

Kohli ends his barren run, with a cracking innings of 72 from 53 balls, having hit seven fours and two sixes, while de Villiers is unbeaten on 12 from 11 balls.

Devdutt Padikkal rallied RCB after an early wicket as he cracked 63 from 45 balls, to continue his good run with the bat.

Five singles from the first deliveries before de Villiers clips the last ball through midwicket to get seven runs from the over.

Gopal finishes with 1-27 in four overs, with 24 needed from three overs for victory.

Curran comes back into the attack.

Kohli chips down the track and smashes a full delivery straight down the ground for a four and then picks one on the leg side and de Villiers carves the next over the covers for another run.

The RCB captain then nudges a short ball off his hips through midwicket for two runs before he gets a thick outside edge over thirdman for a four.

Kohli then pulls the last ball past short fine leg for another four, the fourth of the over, to get 16 runs.

RCB close in on victory, as they reach 147-2 in 18 overs, with eight needed from two overs for victory.

Padikkal swats the first ball to long-on for one and Kohli lofts the next back over the bowler, who does well to get his hands on it and tries to pull off a sensational catch but it bursts through and goes to long-off for two runs.

Kohli then comes down the track and lofts it over long-on for a six before a single gets him his fifty, from 41 balls before Padikkal takes one off the last ball.

RCB set for easy win with 37 needed from five overs for victory, with nine wickets in hand.

Archer tries the short ball but Padikkal makes room and slashes it over point for a four before he picks one off the next.

Another short ball as Kohli avoids it before he is beaten by the change of pace, trying to play the pull shot, as wicketkeeper Buttler fails to collect it cleanly and concedes a bye.

Archer brings Rajasthan some relief with the wicket of Padikkal, who is bowled after a good innings of 63 from 45 balls, having put on 99 runs from 80 balls for the second with Kohli, to put RCB on course for victory.

Padikkal, who hit six fours and a six in his 45-ball knock, made room trying to attempt another slash but this time Archer bowls full which crashes into the stumps.

The last ball is a full toss which AB de Villiers defends back to the bowler.

A good outing with the ball for Archer, as he picks 1-18 in four overs.

RCB in control with 31 needed from four overs for victory, with a well-set Kohli out in the middle and de Villiers with him.

Kohli comes down the track and smashes the second ball over the cover region for a four before he lofts the next all the way over the same region for a six as RCB go past 100, in the 13th over.

Kohli then misses out as he pulls a short ball for a single to deep midwicket before Parag bowls a leg side wide to Padikkal, as 13 runs come from the over.

The match is firmly under RCB's control with 51 needed from seven overs for victory.

Last throw of the dice as far as Rajasthan are concerned as strike bowler Archer is called back into the attack.

Padikkal looks to smash a wide delivery but can't get it off the middle for a single before Kohli picks one on the leg side.

Archer tries the short ball as Padikkal ducks under it before he defends the next and picks a single from the last ball, as just three runs come from the over.

RCB are 107-1 in 14 overs, with 48 needed from six overs for victory.

Three more singles as RCB collect five runs from the over to continue their sedate approach against the spinners in the last few overs.

Pacer Unadkat comes back into the attack.

Kohli clips the first ball for a single and Padikkal turns the next through square leg for two runs before steering the third ball past short thirdman for a four to bring up his fifty, from 34 balls. This is Padikkal's third fifty in four games as the young left-hander continues his dream start in the IPL.

Unadkat goes short as Padikkal pulls it for a single and Kohli gets one off the fifth ball, to get nine from the over as RCB reach 91-1 in 12 overs.

A single to Padikkal, who has changed gears and has cut out the risks, trying to build a partnership with captain Kohli and consolidate on the quickfire start.

Kohli also playing solidly as he defends the last two balls back to the bowler, as seven come from the over.

Leg-spinner Gopal comes back into the attack.

A single each to Padikkal and Kohli before the former crashes a wide delivery through the covers for two runs and raise the 50-run stand for the second wicket, followed by two singles.

At the halfway mark, RCB are well placed on 77 for one in 10 overs, needing another 78 runs for victory in the remaining 10 overs.

Padikkal has settled down after a quickfire start, to hit 46 from 30 balls, while Kohli is on 23 from as many balls.

Padikkal slaps the first ball through the covers for a single and Kohli clips the third ball fine on the leg side for two runs and drives the fourth ball down to long-on for one.

Padikkal punches the fifth ball to sweeper cover for one before Kohli is beaten last ball with a sharp turning delivery but he does well to keep his balance.

Curran continues as singles come from the first three balls before Kohli pulls the fifth ball over midwicket for two runs with Tewatia making a good stop on the edge of the boundary at deep midwicket to keep the ball inside the ropes.

The RCB captain drives the last ball through the covers where the fielder puts in a poor effort to let the ball go through for a four as they reach 64-1 in eight overs.

RCB are going at exactly eight per over, with the asking rate under eight with 91 needed from 12 overs for victory.

Kohli then misses out a short ball as he cuts it straight to point, where the fielder fumbles to give away a single and Padikkal pulls the next to deep midwicket for another run.

Pacer Tom Curran comes into the attack.

Padikkal continues to bat positively as he lofts the first ball down the ground for two runs before the left-hander pulls the third ball behind square for a four, using his wrist to good effect to get the ball fine and along the ground.

He then throws his bat a wide delivery, slashing it over the off-side ring for another four, to race to 35 from 19 balls.

Curran goes full as Padikkal tries to loft it down the ground and ends up miscuing it high but it falls safely between mid-off and mid-on with both Smith and Archer going for it initially and then pulling out.

RCB off to a good start as they race to 50-1 in six overs. They need another 105 runs from 14 overs for victory at an asking rate of 7.5.

Padikkal pushes the first ball to long-on for a single before Finch makes room and then pulls a short ball on his pads through square leg for a four.

Finch then shuffles across and attempts the sweep shot but misses and hit on the pads. The umpires turn down the LBW appeal but Rajasthan take the review with Gopal looking very confident.

That's a superb review as Finch is struck in line and the ball is going on to hit the stumps as Gopal makes the early breakthrough for Rajasthan.

Captain Virat Kohli walks in at No 3 as he gets off the mark with a single through midwicket and Padikkal does the same next ball.

Archer comes back into the attack.

Padikkal glances the second ball off his hips as the fielder at short fine leg fails to stop the ball and give away a four and the bowler Archer is visibly annoyed.

RCB are off to a quick start as they race to 32-1 in four overs, with Padikkal on 23 from 12 balls.

The impressive Devdutt Padikkal opens the batting for RCB with the consistent Aaron Finch, who is quite dangerous in the Powerplay.

The first ball from Archer is slightly short as Padikkal pushes it into the covers for a single to get off the mark before Finch misses the pull and is hit high on the pads.

Finch is hit on the pads again but the impact is high as he survives the leg before shout before he attempts the pull shot but is beaten.

A short wide delivery from Archer as Finch slashes it over point for a four to get off the mark.

Jaydev Unadkat from the other end. He starts with a half-volley on the pads as Padikkal picks it off his pads and deposits over midwicket for a six.

Two balls later, he pulls a short ball over midwicket for a four and then steers a slower ball fine on the off-side for two runs and then clips the next to deep midwicket for another couple and keeps strike with a signle from the last ball.

15 runs from Unadkat's first over as RCB race to 20 for no loss, in two overs.

Tewatia hits the first ball down the ground for a single before Archer has a big swing but misses.

Archer makes good connection next ball as pulls Udana for a six over midwicket before he slams the next through the covers for a couple.

Archer then fails to connect the next ball and is hit on the body as Tewatia comes all the way down looking for a quick run before he is sent back. However, Udana fails to collect the ball cleanly to miss out on an easy run out opportunity before he takes one to long-off.

10 runs from the over as Udana finishes with 2-41 in his four ovres.

Saini to bowl the final over.

The first ball is a full toss as Archer fails to get it away, hitting it to the fielder in the covers as he swings hard.

Saini then bowls a high full toss to Tewatia as he attempts the yorker. Tewatia is down on the ground after sustaining a blow on the chest.

The umpire calls it a no-ball for height and Tewatia shows he is fine as he smashes the next ball over square leg for a six to make most of the free hit.

Saini then bowls a full toss as Tewatia despatches it over the leg side for another six before he has another wild swing but is beaten.

He picks a single off the fifth ball before Archer attempts the paddle scoop but is hit on the helmet.

Rajasthan stage a late recovery to post 154-6 in their 20 overs.

Rahul Tewatia clips the third ball to square leg for a soingle to get off the mark.

Lomror misses out a well-deserved half-century as holes out to Padikkal at mid-off as he attempts another big heave over midwicket.

The young Lomror walks back after a good innings of 47 from 39 balls, in his first game in this year's IPL.

Jofra Archer comes in at No 8 as he gets off the mark with a single and Tewatia takes one off the last ball.

Chahal finishes with 3-24 in his four overs, despite conceding 20 runs in his last two overs.

Rajasthan are struggling on 116-6 in 17 overs.

Saini is back into the attack. The first ball is on the pads as Tewatia swings it over midwicket for a six, the 50th six for Rajasthan in this year's IPL so far.

Tewatia pulls the next ball for one and Archer lofts the third ball over the bowler for one before AB de Villiers comes up with a good save to deny Tewatia some runs.

The left-hander then pulls the fifth ball for one and Archer inside edges a full toss fine on the leg side for a four, with Royals reaching 129-6 in 18 overs.

Parag steers the first ball to point for one before Lomror misses the sweep and gets a leg bye and the former lofts the third ball on the bounce to long-off for another run.

Lomror shows scant respect for Chahal as he comes down the track and lofts RCB's premier spinner over long-on for a six before he gets one off the last ball, as Chahal goes for 10 runs in his third over, with Rajasthan reaching 99-4 in 15 overs.

Pacer Udana is back into the attack.

Lomror drives the first ball through the covers for a single and Parag clips the next thrpugh the leg side in the gap to get two runs before the pacer bowls a wide.

Parag again clips it with soft hands to midwicket but this time the fielder comes charging in, to keep it down to one and Lomror takes one to long-off.

A good short ball from Udana as it hurries on to Parag, who pulls it straight to Aaron Finch at long-on to perish for 16.

Lomror keeps strike with a single from the last ball as Rajasthan are reduced to 106-5 in 16 overs.

Medium pacer Shivam Dube comes into the attack.

He does a good job, conceding just four singles in his first over as RCB continue to build the pressure.

Zampa, who has two overs in hand, comes back into the attack.

Parag gets a thick outside edge to short thirdman before picks a single on the leg side and Lomror flicks the third ball through the leg side for one.

Parag then smashes a flighted delivery straight down the ground past the bowler for a four, followed by singles off the last two balls, to get eight runs from the over as Royals reach 85-4 in 14 overs.

Off-spinner Sundar is back into the attack.

Lomror hits the first ball through the off-side for one and Parag flicks the third ball through the leg side for a single, followed by singles off the last two balls.

Rajasthan reach 89-4 in 14 overs, with Lomror on 30 from 29 balls, while Parag is on 11 from 13 balls.

Four singles from the first deliveries before Uthappa lofts the last ball down the ground for a much-needed boundary, to get eight runs from the over.

Sundar does well to keep things tight.

He keeps it simple, just bowling in the right areas, as Uthappa and Lomror pick two singles each, to get four runs from the over.

Zampa continues as Lomror brings out the slog sweep, smashing it high over midwicket for a six before he cuts the next ball past point for two runs.

Uthappa sweeps the fifth ball to deep square leg for one and Lomror is beaten last ball, trying to play the cut shot.

Royals reach 61-3 in nine overs, with Lomror and Uthappa on 15 each, as they look to repair the damage.

He also strikes first ball, with the big wicket of the in-form Samson, who is caught and bowled for four.

Samson looks to defend but ends up chipping it back as Chahal does well to take a good catch, diving to his right, taking it inches from the ground. The umpires want to have another look as they refer it to the TV umpire with the soft signal as out.

Has Chahal got his fingers underneath the ball or has the ball touched the ground? The TV umpire says he has no conclusive evidence to overturn the original decision as Samson walks back with Royals slipping to 31-3 in the fifth over, losing two wickets in the space of seven balls without the addition of a single run.

New batsman Mahipal Lomror nearly chips it back to the bowler as it falls just short before he takes a single to mid-off.

Uthappa, who hasn't scored a run in five balls, gets off the mark with an uppish flick towards midwicket which goes just wide of Aaron Finch inside the circle, for a single.

Off-spinner Sundar comes back into the attack.

A single to Uthappa off the first ball before Lomror takes a risky single to mid-on as the fielder fails to collect the ball cleanly.

Uthappa then walks across his stumps and looks to sweep but is beaten as the appeal for LBW is turned down. He then miscues the sweep next ball but it goes over the fielder at square leg for two runs before he gets one off the last ball.

Rajasthan struggling on 38-3 in six overs after a few early wickets in the Powerplay.

Udana starts his second over with a slower bouncer as Buttler pulls it over midwicket for a six. The next ball is again short as Buttler pulls it again, this time for a four before taking a single.

However, Udana redeems himself with the wicket of Smith, who throws his bat at a wide delivery but only manages to inside edge it back on to his stumps to be bowled for five.

Sanju Samson starts off in great style as he drives a wide half-volley past mid-off for a four to get off the mark in some style before he is beaten last ball playing away from his body.

Navdeep Saini comes into the attack, replacing Sundar, who bowled just one over with the new ball.

Saini strikes with his very first delivery with the key wicket of Buttler, who is caught at wide slip for a quick 22 from 12 balls. Devdutt Padikkal took a superb catch, diving full length to his right, to take a low catch very close to the ground.

Royals in early trouble on 31-2, in the fourth over.

New batsman Robin Uthappa under pressure, having not scored many runs in the IPL so far.

Uthappa looks to get his eye in as he defends against Saini, before he gets an inside edge on the leg side. Uthappa looks a bit shaky as he tries to defend and is beaten last ball as he pokes at one outside the off-stump.

A perfect start with the ball for Saini, who begins with a wicket-maiden.

Jos Buttler and Steve Smith walk out to open the batting for Rajasthan, while left-arm pacer Isuru Udana will open the bowling for RCB.

Buttler gets an edge off the first ball but it falls well of the fielder in the slips before he clips the next past short fine leg for a four to get off the mark and then picks a single in the covers.

Smith gets an inside edge on to his pads before he glances the last ball off his pads past short fine leg for another four, as nine come from the first over.

Off-spinner Washington Sundar to bowl from the other end.

Buttler shuffles across his crease as Sundar bowls it full on the pads and the right-hander sweeps it fine for a four before taking one.

Smith pushes the next to long-on for one and Buttler reverse sweeps the last ball for one as Royals reach 16-0 in two overs.

Bangalore have retained the same team, which beat Mumbai Indians in their previous game in the Super Over.

Check out the playing XIs of the two teams:

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli (captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, AB de Villiers (w/k), Shivam Dube, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Washington Sundar, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Adam Zampa, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Rajasthan Royals: Steven Smith (captain), Jos Buttler (w/k), Sanju Samson, Robin Uthappa, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Mahipal Lomror, Tom Curran, Shreyas Gopal, Jofra Archer, Jaydev Unadkat

The dew factor will go out of the window but the searing heat will be an issue when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on a better prepared Rajasthan Royals in the first afternoon game of the IPL.

Having played their first two games at Sharjah, the smallest of the three venues, Royals got their strategy wrong in the game against Kolkata Knight Riders in Dubai.

The Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi is on the bigger side and Royals' experience of playing in Dubai will help them plan better for the match.

Meanwhile, RCB will also be playing their first game at the venue.

With the batsmen unable to hit through the line as consistently as they could do in Sharjah, Royals failed to chase 175 against KKR on Wednesday.

Since they have a settled overseas players' combination, one possible change in the eleven could be replacing pacer Ankit Rajpoot with Varun Aaron, who is yet to get a game.

The team has benched young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal after Jos Buttler's arrival but calls have been growing for his inclusion. With the top three picking themselves, the stylish southpaw can only play in the middle order.

The in-form Steve Smith and Sanju Samson perished cheaply against KKR, but they could be keen to produce another cracking innings against RCB, while Jos Buttler is quite dangerous at the top of the order.

Both Royals and RCB go into Saturday's afternoon match with two wins from three games.

RCB skipper Kohli is yet to set the tournament on fire and Saturday could be his day. Kohli could be due for a huge score, after having managed 18 runs in three matches played so far --  14 vs SunRisers Hyderabad, 1 vs Kings XI Punjab and 3 vs Mumbai Indians.

RCB have made a promising start but need to improve their fielding and death bowling. Navdeep Saini bowled a tidy Super Over against Mumbai Indians to get his team over the line after RCB leaked as many as 79 runs in the last four overs with the game ending in a tie.