DUBAI: Delhi Capitals used the pace of Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada to earn a 13-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League yesterday.
Nortje (2-33) claimed the key wickets of Robin Uthappa (32) and Jos Buttler (22) and together with Rabada (1-28) tied down Rahul Tewatia in the end to restrict Rajasthan to 148-8.
Delhi had earlier scored 161-7 on the back of Shikhar Dhawan’s second successive half century as the left-handed opener scored 57 and captain Shreyas Iyer added 53.
Jofra Archer had earlier clean bowled Prithvi Shaw off the first ball of the match, to finish with figures of 3-19.
English duo Buttler and Ben Stokes (41) provided a rollicking start for Rajasthan by smashing 37 runs in the first three overs. But once Buttler was castled by Nortje and Smith (1) offered a tame return catch to offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Delhi kept striking at regular intervals.