Sanju Samson remained upbeat despite Rajasthan’s defeat to Delhi in a high-scoring encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, May 7. Samson’s Rajasthan missed out on an opportunity to become the first team to qualify for the playoffs as they fell short of a 222-run target by 21 runs. Despite the defeat, Rajasthan are sitting pretty at the second spot in the points table with 8 wins from 3 matches, but Samson warned against taking anything for granted in a tournament that is as competitive as the IPL.
Sanju Samson’s sensational knock of 86 from 46 went in vain as Rajasthan imploded from 162 for 3 in the 16th over to finish with 201 for 8 in their quota of 20 overs. Samson’s controversial dismissal in the 16th over turned things around and Delhi were ruthless with the ball after the RR captain’s exit. Rishabh Pant handled the bowlers wonderfully well under pressure as Delhi defended 221 — the lowest total in Delhi this season by a team batting first.
DC vs RR: Highlights | Scorecard
“We have lost 3 games but all have been tight. We have been playing great cricket throughout. Results can go either way but we need to keep the fine tuning going and come back as this tournament doesn’t allow us to relax,” Sanju Samson said.
Sanju Samson had very little support as the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler failed to get going in their mammoth chase. Riyan Parag hung around, but managed just 27 off 22. Left-hander Shubham Dubey hit 25 off 12, but RR’s chase derailed after Shai Hope took the contentious catch of Sanju Samson in the 16th over.
IPL 2024 Full Coverage | IPL 2024 Points Table and Standings | 2024 IPL Full Schedule
Earlier in the day, Delhi raced off to another rapid start as their Australian big-hitter Jake-Fraser McGurk hit a fifty off just 20 balls. However, R Ashwin pulled things back with the wicket of McGurk in the powerplay.
Ashwin ended Abhishek Porel’s stay in the middle just when the left-handed opener was looking to convert his fifty into a big knock. The wily off-spinner also got the wicket of Axar Patel as Delhi managed just 26 runs in 5 overs.
SAMSON LAUDS DELHI’S POWERFUL FINSIH
However, Tristan Stubbs’s blinder (41 off 20) helped Delhi smash 53 runs in the last 3 overs and take their total to 221.
Sanju Samson conceded that Rajasthan gave away 10-15 runs extra in the last 3 overs, but also credited Tristan Stubbs for taking the game away from them in the end overs.
“I think we’re doing both things fine, we want to stick to what the conditions demand. 220 was 10 too much, had we conceded 2 boundaries less, we’d have gotten through easily. DC batted really well. Their opener (Fraser-McGurk) started well, kept doing what he has through the tournament. Ashwin got him out. I felt we gave away too much in the last two overs.
“We have to give credit to Stubbs for how he batted against Sandeep, who has been our best in the last 10-11 games. He scored 2-3 extra sixes,” Samson added.
Rajasthan will next face the Super Kings in Chennai on Sunday, May 12 in another crunch clash as the playoffs race reaches its business end.
