IPL 7 T20 DD vs RR: Rajasthan romp to easy win over Delhi

Karun Nair cracked an superb unbeaten half century as Rajasthan Royals registered a comfortably seven-wicket win over against Delhi Daredevils in an Indian Premier League match at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi.

Needing 153 to win, Ajinkya Rahane departed early scoring only 12. But Nair and Sanju Samson (34) shared a crucial 51-run partnership for the second wicket to steady things.

After Samson departed, Nair continued to play his natural game and was ably supported by Rajat Bhatia (17).

Nair got to his half century as he continued his assault with the company of his skipper Shane Watson (16 not out) as he remained unbeaten on 73 to ensure Rajasthan achieved 156 for three in 18.3 overs.

Earlier, Delhi Daredevils batsmen played well in patches as they posted 152 for five in 20 overs.

Put in to bat first, opener Quinton de Kock provided a strong start with a gritty 43 from 33 balls including five boundaries and a six before wickets well in quick succession to derail Delhi's progress.

Even captain Pietersen could not do much before JP Duminy (39) and Kedar Jadhav (28 not out) added some quick runs to ensure Delhi had a challenging total.

For Rajasthan, Praveen Tambe and James Faulkner took two wickets each.

RAJASTHAN ROYALS INNINGS

A six from Watson completely eases things off for Rajasthan. They just need five from the last two overs. RR 148-3 in 18 overs.

Nair gets to his half century in style but does not stop there to smash a big six. It's all easy for Rajasthan now. RR 136-3 in 17 overs.

Rajasthan need 29 off 24 balls. Watson gets a straight six but Nadeem comes back well to bowl three dot balls. RR 124-3 in 16 overs.

Delhi finally celebrate a wicket. Good ball from Shami as he rattles Bhatia's stumps. RR 115-3 in 15 overs.

Rajat Bhatia b Mohammed Shami 17 (13b 0x4 1x6)

It's looking all easy for Rajasthan at the moment. Nair on 44 as the partnership reaches 38 from 24 balls. RR 111-2 in 14 overs.

A great over for Rajasthan as Bhatia fires a six and Nair gets a boundary. Both looking confident as the required run rate is just over seven. RR 101-2 in 13 overs.

Nair suddenly lightens up the crowd with a fine six. The equation got a little better for Rajasthan with 67 needed of 48 balls. RR 86-2 in 12 overs.

Momentum gets disturbed after the wicket as Nair struggles to find the gaps. Shami has given only 18 runs from his three overs. RR 76-2 in 11 overs.

A huge disappointment for Rajasthan. Samson was doing a great job before he is stumped by Karthik. RR 71-2 in 10 overs.

Sanju Samson st Karthik b Nadeem 34 (28b 2x4 2x6)

Nair launches one over to the extra cover for a fine boundary. The partnership between the two young batsmen reaches 40. RR 60-1 in 9 overs.

Nadeem bowls a tight over. Just five runs off it. Rajasthan need 101 from 72 balls. RR 52-1 in 8 overs.

Rajasthan are 47-1 in 7 overs.

Samson looks solid when he plays his shots and so was his six that came off Unadkat's bowling. RR 38-1 in 6 overs.

Shami does not give away easy runs as only four runs comes off it. Rajasthan need 122 runs from 90 balls. RR 31-1 in 5 overs.

Unadkat kept Nair dancing to his tunes but not Samson who smashed one to a boundary. RR 27-1 in 4 overs.

A brilliant catch from Vijay ends Rahane's run. He is delighted RR 20-1 in 2.5 overs.

Ajinkya Rahane c Vijay b Parnell 12 (10b 2x4 0x6)

Rahane looks confident as he gets a fine boundary through covers. RR 14-0 in 2 overs

Cautious start from openers with five singles off Nadeem's over. RR 5-0 in 1 over.

Rahane and Nair open for Rajasthan as Nadeem bowls for Delhi.

DELHI DAREDEVILS INNINGS

Amazing hitting from Jadhav who hit 28 from 14 balls as Delhi reach a healthy total of 152 for five in 20 overs.

A brilliant catch from Bhatia on the boundary line as the dangerous Duminy is gone. DD 141-5 in 19.3 overs.

JP Duminy c Bhatia b Richardson 39 (31b 4x4 1x6)

Another good over for Delhi as both Jadhav and Duminy crack a boundary. 11 runs coming off it. DD 134-4 in 19 overs.

Two boundaries for Duminy from Richardson's over. Delhi need more of it. DD 123-4 in 18 overs.

With just two overs left, Duminy and Jadhav need some big shots. It's not a very impressive score. DD 112-4 in 17 overs.

Something to cheer for the Delhi fans as Jadhav hooks one to a big six. DD 103-4 in 16 overs.

Nothing going in Delhi's favour as Karthik departs offering an easy catch to Binny in the deep. DD 95-4 in 15.2 overs.

Dinesh Karthik c Binny b Faulkner 12 (16b, 0x4, 0x6)

The partnership is only 24 from 30 balls. Not the one Delhi want at this stage. Tambe finishes with 27 runs from his four overs with two wickets to his credit. DD 95-3 in 15 overs.

Runs hardly coming with Kulkarni bowling a fine over to give away only three runs. DD 89-3 in 14 overs.

Another good over from Bhatia. Just 21 runs from his three overs. Delhi had a great start but the momentum has gone down now. DD 86-3 in 13 overs.

Runs slowing down as the run rate is just over six and a half. DD 80-3 in 12 overs.

Two new batsmen - Karthik and Duminy - in the middle. They need another good partnership. DD 77-3 in 11 overs.

Tambe does it again. Another wicket and the big one of well-settled De Kock. DD 71-3 in 10 overs.

Quinton de Kock c & b Tambe 43 (33b 5x4 1x6)

Rajasthan must be happy with that wicket as Pietersen departs. Bad shot selection of an ordinary ball from Tambe as Smith takes a simple catch at long on. DD 69-2 in 9.3 overs.

Kevin Pietersen c Smith b Tambe 14 (15b 2x4 0x6)

A brilliant partnership building up between De Kock and Pietersen. It's 35 from 21 balls. DD 68-1 in 9 overs.

Tambe bowls a fine over but for a boundary from Pietersen through covers. DD 57-1 in 8 overs.

Rajasthan clearly not happy there. Samson did a fantastic job to pick up the ball and to get Pietersen run out but the umpire did not refer it to the third umpire. That's a bad miss. DD 50-1 in 7 overs.

De Kock fires two back to back boundaries. DD 46-1 in 6 overs.

Focus on Pietersen as he enters to receive huge cheers from the crowd. DD 35-1 in 5 overs.

First wicket for Rajasthan as Vijay falls cheaply. A high catch comfortably taken by Watson off Faulkner. DD 33-1 in 4.1 overs.

Murali Vijay c Watson b Faulkner 13 (11b 1x4 0x6)

De Kock is looking very confident playing his shots comfortably. A cheeky hit off his legs to a six off Watson. DD 33-0 in 4 overs.

A good over from Kulkarni before De Kock scores a lovely boundary off his legs. DD 22-0 in 3 overs.

It's a fine start from Delhi with openers Vijay and De Kock going steady. DD 16-0 in 2 overs.

PLAYING XI:

DD: Quinton de Kock, Murali Vijay, JP Duminy, Kevin Pietersen, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, Wayne Parnell, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohammed Shami, Jaydev Unadkat, Rahul Sharma.

RR: Ajinkya Rahane, Karun Nair, Samuel Samson, Shane Watson, Stuart Binny, Steven Smith, James Faulkner, Dhawal Kulkarni, Rajat Bhatia, Kane Richardson, Praveen Tambe.

Rajasthan have won the toss and elected to bowl against Delhi in Match of IPL 7 at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi on Saturday.

Rajathan are placed third in the points table with three wins from five matches while Delhi are the second from bottom with just two wins.

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