Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals, 32nd Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

What goes around comes around. Delhi Capitals suffered three brainfade run outs last Sunday as they lost out against Mumbai Indians. Today, two hara-kiri run outs from Rajasthan in the Super Over and some sensational blockhole bowling from Mitch Starc gave them an unlikely win, a get out of jail card. But champion teams make unlikely wins happen for them, and DC have the look of champions this year. The air around Delhi seems to be changing, it seems to be a lot more pure and calming to take in from atop the table. Hope everyone’s heart rates and oxygen levels are back to normal, I’m going to get myself checked too now…This is Saurabh signing off on behalf of Kumar, Venky and Praveen.

Mitchell Starc | Player of the Match: (On the final over) Just backed my execution, running in with a clear plan. Sometimes it comes off, a bit of luck goes a long way. It was a fantastic game, happy to get on the right side. I’ve played long enough for everyone to know what I’d do, but if I execute then I know I’ll get by. A bit of luck goes a long way. (On RR’s choice of batters for the Super Over) Was a bit of a surprise to see left-handers come in with my angle as the ball was tailing back in. Got one wrong there with the side line no-ball, but we had the batting depth then to chase that down. (On team atmosphere) Good mix of youth and experience here. Axar is leading us well. Kuldeep has been fantastic. Stubbs and KL are very experienced as well. We are having a lot of fun, success helps that as well.

Axar Patel | Translated from Hindi: All is well that ends well. The way we started, the way the powerplay went. I thought we could have accelerated a bit more. We were talking to the batters during the first strategic time-out. They told us the wicket isn't easy when you come in. I asked them to keep up the intent. But we got momentum after the 12 or 13th over while batting. The ball was gripping. It wasn't easy for the new batter. The set batter was finding it better. When the runs flow, the panic button sets in. I told myself and the troops after the strategic time-out in the bowling innings that the real game starts now. Won't be easy in the middle overs. It won't be easy to hit fours and sixes. We will have to do something off the deck as nothing will happen on its own. When the set batter gets out, it isn't easy for the new batters here. A couple of wickets go down and the panic button gets pressed under pressure. The ball was gripping and not coming on to the bat. This season, I had a cut during the Champions Trophy and wasn't finding it easy. You do get confidence when the team is winning. But as a captain, you do think of contributing. You try to set examples. I came in and tried to create an impact. I thought what I can do and followed my process. I batted and bowled well today I feel. (on thoughts before the last over) I was thinking if Mitch can execute, we will be in this. 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. It was vital to lose that one game. Helps us.

Stats by Deepu Narayanan

STAT: Fourth win by Delhi Capitals in five Super Over contests involved - the most by any team in the tournament surpassing three wins by Punjab Kings (in four games).

Tristan Stubbs: Felt horrible when I dropped that catch (in the 15th over), but KL kept me calm there and I tried to win the game. (On the dropped catch) I dropped it and I was like I couldn’t believe it. And they hit a six and a four. (On the plan in the Super Over) He (Sandeep) was going for slower-ball bouncers, so I committed to that shot. KL told me take your time, this is all about handling pressure. (On his form) It is going well so far, just want to keep going. Feels good to bounce back, hope we can carry on with that momentum.

Sanju Samson: It feels alright (His injury). I wasn't just ready to come back and bat. It feels alright now. We will observe it tomorrow and see how it is. We bowled really well. There were phases when they came hard at us. I would like to give credit to our bowlers and fielders. The energy on the ground was fantastic. I thought that score was chaseable given the batting lineup which we had. The start which we got in the powerplay, I felt it was definitely a chaseable score. 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. Plan was to swing hard. I think (Sandeep) has been bowling the toughest overs for us in the last few years. Starcy took it away. A win today could have created some positivity in the dressing room.

23:48 Local Time, 18:18 GMT, 23:48 IST: So the first Super Over of the season was needed to separate these two sides. In a game that see-sawed all the way through, DC keep their nerve to win a humdinger. Coming back to the chase, Jaiswal and Samson started so well and that's when bad luck struck RR. Samson in trying to cut, missed a ball and immediately felt his side. Something in his ribs and off he went. Parag came and went. Rana though coming in at 4 kept the momentum going, along with Jaiswal kept the scoreboard moving. But the spinners with the help of the pitch slowed things down and 73 were needed off 36 balls at the 2nd timeout. Immediately RR got big overs and it needed Starc magic to bring back DC into the game. A terrific inswinging yorker got the well-set Rana and with just 8 to defend in the last over, Starc nailed yorker after yorker to take us to a Super Over. RR started well with two boundaries and were 10/0 after 3 balls in the Super Over. Then an unncessary run-out of Parag set them back and then Jaiswal got run-out next ball to leave DC a target of 12. Stubbs and Rahul had no problems in finishing it off against Sandeep who bowled one too many slower-balls into the wicket. Phew what a game. Need a liedown after all of this. Hang on for all the post-match stuff....

Ball four - Sandeep to Stubbs, SIX!! That's the game. DC win this. Stubbs and Rahul punch gloves and they celebrate. Too predictable this from Sandeep, digs in a slower-ball outside off, short and Stubbs pulls massively off the front foot, flies well over deep mid-wicket, DC win the Super Over with two balls to spare. After the six, Stubbs punches the air and roars in delight, while KL too roars as he walks towards Stubbs. They are pumped for sure. What emotions! What.A.Game. DC 13/0 (0.4)

Ball three - Sandeep to Rahul, 1 run, very full on off, Rahul opens the face of the bat and drives to the right of backward point, just one. DC 7/0 (0.3), need 5 runs

Ball two - Sandeep to Rahul, FOUR!! Brilliant shot. Rahul knows the slower-ball is the one which is coming, makes room outside the leg-stump and it's short on middle, slashes and it's nearly all the way at deep backward point, one bounce over the ropes. The off-side field was up and Rahul manipulated it beautifully. DC 6/0 (0.2), need 6 runs

Ball one - Sandeep to Rahul, 2 runs, a good throw from Jaiswal and Rahul was gone. The throw to Jurel is way too high and KL dives to get back in, a slower-ball short outside off, pulled to deep mid-wicket and Jaiswal needed to do better there. Runs in at full-pelt and picks it up with one hand - his right, is off-balance when he throws and Jurel had too much work to do. Jurel came forward to collect the throw and tried to flick it back onto the stumps but he missed. A let-off for Rahul. DC 2/0 (0.1), need 10 runs

KL to take strike first. Jurel is keeping. Here we go...

So 12 needed for DC to win this. Who will be it for RR to bowl? Archer is out there. Deshpande also there. Sandeep too. They are all warming up. Samson is encouraging his mates. Shubham Dubey out there fielding. Stubbs is out there. Who will be the other one? Ashutosh the other one. KL is the third one. Who will be the two out there first? It is KL and Stubbs. Good move this from DC. And it will be Sandeep to bowl.

Ball five - Starc to Hetymer, run-out!! One run completed. Another run-out! A low full-toss on middle and leg, heaved to JFM at deep mid-wicket, Hetmyer wants two, Jaiswal is slow and JFM with an accurate throw on the bounce to Mitchell Starc and he breaks the stumps. Jaiswal is just out, he needed to dive and did not, so RR lose two in two and that's the end of their innings. RR 11/2 (0.5)

Jaiswal comes out.

Ball four - Starc to Parag, run-out!! No run, what was Hetmyer doing there? He calls Parag through when the ball has clipped the batter's pads and gone straight to KL. Full down leg, was a wide had Parag's pads not got in the way, he flicks and misses, off the pad, a simple lob back to Mitchell Starc and he does the rest. Parag had no option but to sacrifice his wicket. RR 10/1 (0.4)

Ball four - Starc to Parag, no-ball, FOUR!! Low full-toss outside off, Parag throws the bat on that, it's sliced off a thick outside-edge and it goes over backward point and runs away for four. What's worse is that it's a back foot no-ball, Starc's back foot just landing on the return crease and you are not allowed to do that, so a free-hit coming up for Parag. RR 10/0 (0.3)

Axar and Mitchell Starc have a chat. Again a change to the field. From round the wicket to Parag. No-one at third man or deep backward point.

Ball three - Starc to Hetmyer, 1 run, low full-toss on middle, Hetmyer strikes it hard and straight to long-on, just one. RR 5/0 (0.3)