Australian pair star as Delhi Capitals pick up vital win

Marsh was the main aggressor, smashing 89 from just 62 balls, while Warner played the anchor role as Delhi chased down Rajasthan Royals' total comfortably

Mumbai: Rajasthan Royals 160-6, Delhi Capitals 161-2 - Delhi Capitals win by eight wickets

Scorecard

Delhi Capitals cruised to a crucial victory over Rajasthan Royals, led by the Australian pair of Mitchell Marsh and David Warner.

Marsh was the main aggressor, smashing 89 from just 62 balls, while Warner anchored the chase with an unbeaten 52, with the duo sharing a 143-run partnership for the second wicket as they chased down Rajasthan's total with 11 balls remaining.

Earlier, Royals had reached 160 for 6 despite Jos Buttler falling for just seven and Sanju Samson for six. Ravichandran Ashwin, coming in at No.3, made 50 after Buttler's early departure, with Devdutt Padikkal adding 48 from 30 balls.

But otherwise, Rajasthan toiled in the face of excellent Delhi bowling; Chetan Sakariya, who was coming up against his former franchise, took the wickets of Buttler and Riyan Parag at either end of the innings and conceded just 23 runs in his four overs. Anrich Nortje was more expensive but chipped in with the key scalps of Padikkal – when well set – and Samson.

Marsh's excellent day included taking the wickets of Ashwin and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of Delhi's spinners, with Axar Patel expensive in his two overs – not that he was made to pay.

^{Marsh smashed 89 for Delhi in a huge game}

Things might have been different; Srikar Bharat fell to Trent Boult with just the second ball of Capitals' reply, and they were immediately under pressure in what was already a high-pressure chase, given their precarious place in midtable and the widening gap between the top four and those below.

But the Australians, both T20 World Cup winners last year, took charge in a fine stand, making life difficult for captain Samson with their different strengths complicating the bowlers' matchups.

By the time Yuzvendra Chahal accounted for Marsh just 11 runs shy of a hundred, there were just 17 runs needed. Rishabh Pant came to the crease and ensured his side wouldn't have to worry about a tight finish, swinging a pair of sixes over the ropes to end proceedings with time to spare.

Rajasthan remain two points ahead of Delhi – and marginally ahead on net run rate as well – but for Ricky Ponting's men this was a vital win.