Start for Hope as Delhi loses again

Shai Hope cuts through the off-side area during his inning of 29 runs from 23 deliveries
Shai Hope cuts through the off-side area during his inning of 29 runs from 23 deliveries

(CMC) – Shai Hope got a start but failed to carry on as the Delhi Capitals crashed to their seventh defeat of the Indian Premier League season with a 47-run loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore yesterday.

The stylish right-hander, named in the West Indies’ squad for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States, made 29 from 23 balls with four fours as the Capitals failed to chase down 188 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Captain Axar Patel top-scored with 57 from 39 deliveries, while Australian opener Jake Fraser-McGurk smacked an eight-ball 21 but no other batsman passed 10.

Left-arm seamer Yash Dayal spearheaded RCB’s attack with three for 20.

Rajat Patidar had earlier top-scored with 52 from 32 balls, helping RCB up to a competitive 187 for nine off their 20 overs after being sent in.

The 30-year-old struck three fours and three sixes, anchoring an 88-run, third-wicket partnership with Will Jacks, whose 41 required 29 deliveries.

When both fell in the space of 14 balls, Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green struck an unbeaten 32 off 24 balls to inspire a 37-run fifth wicket stand with Mahipal Lomror (13), which helped at the back end.

In reply, Delhi were slumping at 30 for four in the fourth over before Hope and Axar combined in a 56-run fifth wicket stand to revive the chase.

Hope perished in the 10th over when he tugged a full toss from New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson (2-23) to mid-wicket, and his dismissal signalled the final decline as the last six wickets tumbled for 54 runs.

Karn Sharma completed a diving catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Shai Hope, which sparked a Delhi batting collapse