Delhi Capitals edged out Rajasthan Royals in the IPL’s first Super Over of the season after pace bowler Mitchell Starc defended nine off the last over on Wednesday.
Left-arm quick Starc restricted Rajasthan to 4-188 after Delhi made 5-188, and then returned to bowl another disciplined over at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground.
Rajasthan managed just 11 runs from their Super Over after Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag hit a boundary each before both were run out, ending the innings with a ball to spare.
Needing 12 to win, KL Rahul started with a two and then hit a four before Tristan Stubbs finished off with a six on the fourth ball from Sandeep Sharma.
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Delhi, led by Axar Patel, got back to winning ways and returned to take top spot in the 10-team table with five victories and just one defeat in six matches.
Rajasthan, who have been chasing the IPL title since their inaugural triumph in 2008 under late Australia great Shane Warne, slumped to their fifth loss in seven matches.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana hit 51 each to set up Rajasthan’s chase of 189, but wickets at regular intervals kept Delhi in the hunt.
Australia’s Starc dismissed Rana in the 18th over before Dhruv Jurel hit back in his 26 and Hetmyer made 15 not out.
With Rajasthan needing nine to win off the final over, Starc limited them to ones and twos before Jurel was run out attempting a second run off the last ball, leaving the teams tied and facing a one-over shootout.
“I was thinking if Mitch can execute, we will be in this,” Axar said on his choice for the last over.
“He bowled almost 12 yorkers. That’s why he is such an Australian legend. I guess he missed only one ball as far as execution was concerned. The field was changed but he kept at it.”
Starc was named player of the match and the 35-year-old won rich praise from Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson.
“I felt it was definitely a chaseable score,” said Samson.
“I think as we all saw some fantastic bowling by Starcy. He is one of the best guys around in the world. I would like to give it to Starcy. He won them the game in the 20th over.”
Earlier, Rajasthan raced to 50 in five overs with Jaiswal on fire and Samson going well before retiring hurt with rib pain after making 31 off 19 balls.
Samson, after the match, said he “feels alright now”.
Jaiswal brought up his third fifty of the season before being dismissed by left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav but Rana kept up the batting surge.
Rana survived a reprieve on 20 when Stubbs dropped the batter on the ropes and ball went for six. He made the most of his second chance but the batting effort was not enough.
Delhi rode on Abishek Porel’s 49 and scores of 34 apiece from Axar and Stubbs. In-form Rahul made 38 and put on 63 runs with Porel.
Axar then added 41 runs off 19 balls with South African Stubbs as the two hit the ball to all parts of the ground much to the delight of the home crowd as Delhi managed 77 runs from the last five overs.
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