Riyan Parag's unbeaten 45-ball 84 propelled Rajasthan Royals to 185-5 and sealed a 12-run win over the Delhi Capitals in IPL on Thursday. Rishabh Pant-led Delhi won the toss and chose to field first and maintained a stranglehold over the game until the second half of the Royals' innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rajasthan lost both their explosive openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (five) and Jos Buttler (11) early and even batting mainstay, captain Sanju Samson, failed to convert his start and fell for 15.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With the team reeling at 36-3 in the eighth over, Rajasthan promoted India's spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, who built a crucial 54-run partnership with Parag.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ashwin scored 29 off 19 balls and took the team to 90 before he was dismissed in the 14th over by India teammate Axar Patel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Parag, who has been criticised in previous IPL seasons for his rash shot selection, kept the scoreboard ticking until after the 17th over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 22-year-old put together another key partnership with Indian wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel (20).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Parag, who reached his 50 off 34 balls, cracked 25 runs with three fours and two sixes off the final over bowled by South African paceman Anrich Nortje.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He was ably supported by West Indian Shimron Hetmyer, who hit an unbeaten seven-ball 14 that propelled the team to an impressive 185-5.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Samson praised player of the match Parag.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Wherever I go, people ask me about him. There is something very special he can give to Indian cricket," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Patel was the standout bowler for Delhi and finished with 1-21 in his four over spell.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Delhi started their chase well with Australian openers Mitchell Marsh and veteran David Warner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marsh was removed after a 12-ball 23 in the fourth over by South African quick Nandre Burger, who also removed Ricky Bhui (0) in the same over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But that didn't stop Warner, who took the team to 59-2 at the end of the powerplay.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He was removed in the 12th over after a well compiled 34-ball 49, falling to young India fast bowler Avesh Khan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Delhi subsequently fell behind the run rate before a late innings counterattack by South African Tristan Stubbs who finished with an unbeaten 23-ball 44.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Avesh bowled a tight last over to seal a 12-run victory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal finished his three overs with 2-19 while Burger had 2-29.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Losing captain Pant said that he was "definitely disappointed".<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pant, who hopes to make a comeback to the Indian team after his long injury layoff ahead of the T20 World Cup this summer, made 28 off 26 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n