DC vs RR Ball by Ball Commentary

SIX! Ashutosh Sharma doesn't need a second invitation, and he derails Rajasthan Royals' playoff hopes, keeping Delhi Capitals in with an outside chance. The Capitals win by 5 wickets. Milne bangs it in quick and short over middle, Sharma stays back again and climbs into the pull, launching it high and in front of deep square leg for a biggie.

FOUR! As easy as you like from Ashutosh Sharma. Overpitched delivery on off, Sharma hangs deep in the crease, keeps the front leg out of the way and hammers it over mid off for a boundary. Just 3 needed now off 5 balls.

Oh, a direct hit, and Ashutosh Sharma would have been a goner. Back of a length again, straighter this time. Sharma jams it across to mid-wicket and sets off for the single, and luckily for him, the fielder misses the direct hit at the bowler's end. 7 needed now off the last over.

SIX! Right on cue, Ashutosh Sharma goes big and eases the pressure a bit on the batting side. Back of a length, on off, Sharma hangs back and just shovels it across to deep mid-wicket and over the fence for a biggie.

The boundaries aren't just coming for Delhi at the moment. Full and outside off, Patel can't get under it and squeezes it to covers for one.

WIDE! Another fumble from Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps. Full and down the leg side, it is the slower delivery. Jurel spills it to short fine leg and they get a single as well.

Patel doesn't get the connection, it was there to be hit. Full and straight, not quite yorker-length, Patel backs away and hits it down to long on for just a single.

Full and wide outside off, landing it near the tramline. Ashutosh Sharma gets across and eases it through cover-point for one.

OUT! CAUGHT! Straight to the man in the deep, and there's still a lot of life left in this game. Brijesh Sharma comes around the wicket and bowls a slower one into the pitch, just around off. David Miller gets his hands out in front and looks to drag the pull over mid-wicket but ends up hitting it flat. Dasun Shanaka moves a step to his right in the deep and pouches it around head height. The mighty Miller goes and Brijesh gets his second wicket. 19 required off 11.

SIX! A costly gamble from the Royals, 16 off the over. Tossed up on middle and leg, Axar Patel stays leg side of the ball and just swings across the line, slogging it high and over cow corner for a biggie. 19 needed now off 12 balls.

Oh, that could have gone anywhere. Full again, angled into the leg pole. Miller sets up for the slog sweep but toe-ends it into the off side for one run.

Speared into the left-hander, on a length, Axar backs away and smears it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Well bowled. High-arm delivery, angled a long way into the batter. Miller backs away again but fails to get under it and hits it down to long on for a single.

SIX! Overpitched and punished. Full, trying to angle it in at the toes. David Miller makes a bit of room and slams it over long on for a biggie.

That's well bowled. The under-cutter from Ferreira, lobbed up and drifted into middle. Patel almost misreads it and dabs it late towards short third for a single.

A dot to finish, and that's a fine comeback from Archer, ending up with figures of 4-0-35-2. Back of a length, slanted back into the batter. Miller gets cramped for room and jams it into the off side. 35 needed now off 18 balls.

Archer goes for the yorker now, on off stump, pushed down to long off for a single by Patel.

FOUR! Not where Axar intended that to go, but they all count the same. Good length, angled in at the stumps, Axar Patel comes down the pitch and goes after it, ends up slicing it high and to the right of deep point. Yashasvi Jaiswal runs to his right but the ball spins away from him and goes over the fence.

A fine delivery to the new batter. Just short of a length and around off, at 148.1 kph. The ball shoots off the deck and takes Miller by surprise. He manages to keep it down behind point and picks up a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Yashasvi Jaiswal is back on the field and he takes a top catch, and the game keeps getting tighter and tighter. Tristan Stubbs is a bit early to shuffle past the off stump and sets up for the lap shot. Jofra Archer sees him and drags the length back, slowing it down a touch as well. Instead of hitting it fine, Stubbs ends up hitting it over backward square leg. Jaiswal charges in from deep square leg and takes a fine running catch. Archer delivers for RR, and DC now need 41 off 22 balls.

Short of a length, on a tight line around off, and at 147.5 clicks. Patel hops back and glides it late, down to third man for a single.

WIDE! Around the wicket, a bit short and angled down leg. Wide called. Actually, Riyan Parag has reviewed it, pretty late as well. The third umpire is called into action. He checks UltraEdge and finds that the ball has missed the bat as well as the body and it will stay a wide. A review wasted here.

Full again, attacking the stumps, lofted on the bounce to long on for just one more. 43 needed now off 24 balls.

Pitched up, full and around off, Tristan Stubbs backs away and laces the straight drive, a few inches above the ground as well. Adam Milne gets his left hand down on the follow-through and gets fingertips on it, slowing the ball down to long off for a single. The 150 is also up for DC.

WIDE! Slower bumper, dug in well short and well wide of the off stump. Patel leaves it alone and Dhruv Jurel gets a bad bounce, fumbling the ball towards short third and the batters cross over.

Fuller now, attacking the stumps, flicked away to deep square leg for a single. Five runs off the over so far.

Bowled into the pitch, around off, Stubbs fails to put it away through the off side.

Oh, that's not what you want at this time. Bowled from around the wicket to the left-hander, back of a length and on off. Patel comes down the pitch and punches it wide of mid off. It is the skipper, Riyan Parag who dives to his right and over the ball, allowing the ball to roll down to long off. The batters get three, a rarity on this ground.

Back of a length and on off, slightly slower. Stubbs pushes it through mid on and picks up a single.

Overthrows! Riyan Parag is not happy at all. Skidding through, on a short of a length, on middle. Axar looks to work it away on the leg side with a closed bat face but is beaten for pace. The ball rolls to short third off the thigh and the batters cross over. In comes a wild throw from Yash Punja at the batting end that goes towards deep mid-wicket and the batters sneak in one more.

SIX! Crashed away! Halfway down the track, pace off, on middle. Axar waits for the ball to arrive and climbs into it. He nails the pull over mid-wicket and it goes over the fence for a six.

Bowls it on a short of a length, on middle. Stubbs turns it in front of deep mid-wicket and they think about the second run. Ravi Singh comes charging in off the ropes and seems to have pulled up his hamstring while bending to pick the ball up. The sub fielder, Ravi Bishnoi gets to the ball and keeps the batters down to a single.

OUT! DRAGGED ON! Dasun Shanaka provides RR with a big scalp. Slower one by Dasun, on a good length, just outside the off stump. Rahul makes a bit of room to force it away on the off side but ends up chopping it back onto the stumps. KL really lost his rhythm towards the back end of his innings. DC are 133/3, needing 61 runs off 33 balls.

Good placement. Pace off, angled into the pads, on a length. Rahul tucks it with soft hands through the vacant mid-wicket region and comes back for the second before throw comes in from the deep.

Hits the back of a length, on middle. Axar pulls it hard towards deep mid-wicket. A slight misfield in the deep by Yashasvi Jaiswal but that does not cost RR any extra run.

Looped up, very full, on middle and leg. Axar whips it towards wide long on for just a single. Despite the boundary, just 7 runs off the over. DC require 64 runs from 36 balls.

FOUR! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should have done better there. A bit short, on middle and leg. Patel goes on the back foot and plays the pull through square leg.  Sooryavanshi sprints and slides to his right but the ball catches him on the wrist and deflects behind into the fence.

Sliding in towards the right-hander, on a good length. KL punches it to long on with a straight bat and turns the strike over.

Missed out! A long hop by Punja at 90.7 kph, well wide on off. Rahul reaches out to force it away. Toe-ends it to extra cover.

Fractionally short, on top of off. Rahul hops back and cuts but picks out backward point. He lets out a cry in anguish.

Drops it short, it is the googly, on off. Axar drags the pull to long on and crosses over.

Fuller and on off. KL leans on and knocks it straight to cover. A wicket and just 2 runs off the over. 2 wickets and 18 runs from the last 3 overs. DC need 71 runs in 42 balls.

At the ribs, on the shorter side. Axar hops and works it uppishly but through the vacant square leg region for a single.

Nails the yorker, tailing back in at the toes. Axar squeezes it out to mid-wicket.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Jofra Archer strikes on his return to the attack. Troubled on the previous ball, Sahil Parakh tries to go for the big shot, but it does not come off. Angled in, on a nagging length, on middle and leg. Parakh backs away and swings for the hills. The ball takes the outside edge and goes behind to the keeper, Dhruv Jurel, who gobbles it up. DC are 122/2, needing 72 off 45 balls.

Not in control at all. Archer serves it at 145 kph, tucking the batter up for room. Sahil Parakh was perhaps expecting the short ball and tried to duck. The ball was not that short and Parakh ends up fending it awkwardly towards mid-wicket.

Skidding through, on a short of a length, outside off. KL rides the bounce and cuts it to deep point for one.

Fractionally short, outside off. Rahul presses back and wrists it behind square leg for a run.

Wide! Sprayed beyond the tramline on off. KL lets it pass.

FIFTY FOR RAHUL! A well-compiled knock from Rahul. 4th half-century of the season to go with a century. This is the 50th 50-plus score for KL in the IPL, according to Ian Bishop. Yash drags the length back and it is slower through the air. A bit of turn but KL manages to shovel it wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Across off, on the shorter side. This is slapped to deep cover by Parakh. Single taken.

A bit of extra bounce on this one for Punja due to his height. On a nagging length, outside off. KL cuts it late towards backward point. It gets to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bounce and he can't make a clean stop, allowing a single.

Attempted googly but it is dragged down, on off. Sahil rocks back and pulls it through mid-wicket for one more run.

Drops it short, outside off. A bit of away turn and Rahul cuts it to the right of backward point for a single.

Delivers it on a back of a length, on off. Sahil gets on top of it and punches it to cover.

FOUR! Squeezed away! Brijesh Sharma nails the yorker, right at the base of the off stump. Sahil hurriedly drops his bat down and presents an angled face of the blade. Not sure if it was intended, but it raced down to the deep third fence off the face of the blade.

Targets the off pole with a good-length ball. KL punches it on the up to wide long off for a run.

Bowls the dipping yorker, on leg. Parakh takes it on the full and flicks it in front of square on the leg side for a run.

Pushes the length up, outside off. Parakh leans on and slices it with an open bat face between backward point and deep third. Yash Punja gets around in the deep but cannot prevent the batters from taking the second run.

OUT! STRAIGHT UP AND TAKEN! Brijesh begins from around the wicket and dishes it out on a length, on off. Porel has a big swing at it, looking to go down the ground, but he is early into the lofted hit. It is skied off the lower half of the blade towards long on. Donovan Ferreira runs in off the ropes and takes a safe catch close to his waist. End of a 105-run opening stand. DC need 89 runs in 59 balls.

Rahul tries to be cheeky but misses out. A fuller delivery, wide outside off, Rahul goes for the reverse-scoop but fails to get a bat on it.

Bowled well short and outside off, Porel jams the cut through point and turns the strike over.

Good length, outside off, cut away in front of point for a single by KL.

That's turned a bit but Abishek Porel manages to fend it away and picks up a single to bring up his 4th IPL FIFTY. A googly on leg, turns across the left-hander. Porel presses back and gets a leading edge towards cover, picking up a single in the process.

Dragged short and pushed wide of the off stump, Rahul reaches for it and cuts it to deep backward point for a run.

SIX! KL Rahul had a look at Punja in his first over, but he's decided to take him on now. Tossed up on middle and leg, Rahul skips down the track and lifts it cleanly over long on for a biggie. The 100-run stand is also up between these two.

Pace off from Shanaka, attacking the stumps. Rahul tucks it into the open space at mid-wicket for a single. Porel is keen on the second run but Rahul opts against it. 99 needed now off 66 balls.

Bowled into the pitch and angled just across the left-hander. Porel gets on his toes and pats it down through point for a run.

Two is the call, and they will get it with ease. In and around off, stroked away to the right of Jofra Archer at deep extra cover for a brace. Porel moves on to 48 now.

Fuller one on off and middle, heaved away aerially down to the right of long on for just one run.

Finds the fielder, does Rahul. Slower ball, pushed wide of the off stump. KL Rahul slices the cut and hits it straight to the man at backward point.

Pitched up full on off, Porel leans on and pushes it down to long off for a run.

First over of the chase without a boundary, top over from Punja. Good length on leg, Porel gets cramped for room but rocks back and heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A bit more flight on this one, Rahul comes forward and drives it uppishly. Abishek Porel at the non-striker's end ducks and the ball goes down to long on for a single.

Nagging length, goes across from middle and leg to off. Porel hangs back and wrists it through mid-wicket for one more.

Short of a length, around middle, Rahul rocks back and hacks it wide of deep mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter one around off, cut away off the back foot but straight to point.

Lovely start from the tall man. Nagging length, sliding onto the off stump. Rahul presses back and taps it to covers.

Slower delivery, back of a length and on off. Porel hops back to cut but hits it in front of square and straight to the cover fielder. 13 off Shanaka's first over, and DC are cruising through the chase at the moment.

The call is for two, but Rahul won't get it. Hard length on off, Rahul opens the bat face and punches it to the right of deep backward point for one.

SIX! That's gone absolutely flat. Full and straight, Rahul clears the front leg and pummels it straight down the ground and over the ropes for a maximum.

Back of a length, on a tight line around off, Porel hops up and cuts it through point for one.

FOUR! Easy pickings, especially with third man inside the ring. A gentle-paced delivery, dug in well short and outside off. Abishek Porel reaches up to his left and just deflects it off the blade over short third for a boundary.

Starts with the leg-cutter, bowling it full on off. Rahul looks to heave but gets it off the inner half of the blade and behind square leg for one.

FOUR! Sheer timing and this is Delhi's highest Powerplay of the season, according to Harsha Bhogle on air. Just back of a length, in the channel outside off. Porel hangs back and gets on his toes, punching it sweetly through covers for a boundary. DC are 72/0 after 6 overs.

FOUR! There's the boundary. Dug in short but angled down leg, Abishek Porel gets inside the line and controls the pull down to the vacant long leg region, picking up four easy runs.

Rahul backs away early and a long way as well. Brijesh follows him and Rahul clips it in front of square on the leg side for a fourth straight single in the over.

One more. Shortish length, angled into the body. Porel works it off the hips to deep square leg and rotates strike.

Full-pitched delivery, darted into the pads. Rahul brings the bat down straight and punches it to long on for one more.

A length ball outside off, Porel gets low and taps it down to deep backward point for a single.

Good stop! On top of off by Milne, Rahul gets on top of the bounce and punches it away, but cannot beat Donovan Ferreira at cover-point, who dives to his left to make the stop.

Hurls it on a short of a length, on off. Porel runs it down to deep third and picks up a single.

Pushes the length up, on off, Rahul eases it to mid off and crosses over.

SIX! Thumped! Milne digs it in short but fails to get it high enough to trouble the batter. This is around off and it comes below the chest. Rahul swivels and cracks the pull over deep mid-wicket for a flat six. KL brings up 500 runs for the season.

Oh, that kept low! Bowled on a nagging length, in and around the off stump. Porel tries to steer it behind point with an open bat face but fails to connect. The ball goes on the bounce to the keeper, Dhruv Jurel, who fails to make a clean stop. It deflects away off his knees towards short third and the batters sneak in a bye.

Hits the hard length, over off. Rahul stands tall and drops it with soft hands beside the strip on the off side. They cross.

Brings out the leg-cutter at 120.1 kph and it is on a length. KL turns it off the pads through square leg for a single. The 50 comes up for DC.

Goes wide on the crease on the around-the-wicket angle and serves it on a good length, just outside off. Porel slices it with an open bat face to deep third for a single.

Wide! Sharma takes pace off and goes into the surface, outside off. Porel hops to play the late dab but misses. Wide given for height.

Delivers it on a shortish length, over off. Porel swivels for the pull but is late on the shot and mistimes it to mid on. Rahul was keen for a single but was sent back in time by Abishek.

FOUR! Gets it through! Pace now, on a good length, on off and middle. Porel shimmies down the track and dabs it late to thread the gap between short third and backward point for another boundary.

FOUR! Cleverly done! Slower, short ball by Brijesh, on off. Porel hops and gets his hands high. He picks the slower ball and waits for it to arrive. He glides it fine of the diving short third fielder for a boundary.

Begins with a full ball, angled in, on middle and leg. KL drives it to wide long on for a single.

SIX! That has gone a long way. Archer drifts down leg, on the shorter side. Porel is quick to get inside the line of the ball and helps it away with the angle over long leg for a 92-metre six.

Fuller and around the off stump. Abishek Porel tries to punch it away on the off side but the bat turns in his hand and he bunts it back to the bowler.

Ouch, a painful blow. At 148 kph, into the surface, tucking the left-hander for room. Porel tries to shovel it away but is beaten for pace. The ball goes under his bat and catches Abishek on the midriff. Porel tries to shake off the pain by moving away and looks fine to resume.

Slightly too straight, on a short of a length. Rahul rises with the bounce to work it through backward square leg for a run.

A big mix-up but no harm done. Archer hits the back of a length, on middle and leg. KL stands tall, looking to play it square of the wicket. Miscues it to the left of the man at square leg and sets off for the run. He is halfway through the run before being sent back. Donovan Ferreira moves to his left quickly but gets into a tangle and trips over. That allows Rahul to get back in and he ends up putting in a dive for safety.

FOUR! A valiant effort, but it goes in vain. Archer strays at the hips, on a back of a good length. Rahul hops to get on top of the bounce and tucks it behind square leg. Ravi Singh is quick across the turf in the deep and puts in a dive but the ball evades him.

Serves it full, on off. KL goes a bit too hard on the drive and mistimes it to mid off for another single.

Back to around the wicket for the left-hander, goes full, on off. This is pushed to mid off for a run.

BUZZERS! Milne hurls it on a good length, outside off. Rahul gets low and plays the square drive towards cover-point, where the fielder dives to his left and saves a certain boundary. Ravi Singh picks the ball up from point and has a shy at the bowling end as the batters cross over. Singh hits the stumps, but KL has managed to slide his bat in by then. The ball deflects away off the sticks, wide of mid on for a boundary.

Stays full, around off. Porel presses onto the front foot and plays a punchy drive in front of mid off for a quick single.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Tailing back in sharply and late, full and on middle and leg. Porel stays balanced at the crease and brings his bat out in front to whip it away. Plays it uppishly but between mid-wicket and mid on for a boundary.

Nearly chopped it on! At 140 kph, bowled on a back of a length, on off. Rahul rises with the bounce and tries to defend it late with soft hands. The ball drops off the face of the blade and nutmegs him before going behind on the leg side. They cross.

Bashes the surface, over middle. KL gets on top of the bounce and nudges it behind square leg for a run.

Honing in on the off pole, on a good length. Porel goes deep in the crease and guides it through third man for a single.

Beaten! Angles it into the left-hander from around the wicket, on a back of a length. Porel plays down the line of the ball but it straightens to square him up and go past the outside edge.

Wide! Very full but beyond the tramline on off. Porel reaches out but fails to connect.

FOUR! Adding insult to injury. Full and outside off, Porel leans forward and opens the bat face slightly to caress it past cover-point for a boundary.

DROPPED! Yash Punja puts it down. Fuller and drifting onto the pads. Rahul picks it up off the pads but fails to get it wide enough of the short fine leg fielder. It comes at waist height to the tall Punja. He gets both hands to his left but can't hold on. Single taken and KL is off the mark. No reaction from Archer as he just turns around and starts walking back to his mark. The Royals need to take every chance that comes their way.

Pushed across the left-hander, on a length. Abishek extends his hands for the drive. The bat turns in his hand and it is miscued to mid off for a single.

FIVE WIDES! Oh, dear. A wayward start from Archer and DC are underway. Shaping back into the left-hander but it starts too straight. On a good length, landing outside the line of the leg stump. Porel misses out on the glance and the keeper stands no chance despite the dive.