New Delhi: David Warner quick-fire 77 went in vain as Rajasthan Royals held nerves in the end to restrict Delhi Daredevils to 160/6 and registered a 5-run victory in the fourth match of the IPL 6 at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi.
Delhi Daredevils suffered second blow when Rajasthan Royals pacer Rahul Shukla struck to dismiss Mahela Jayawardene.
Jayawardene shared 43-run stand with David Warner for the second wicket to lead Delhi's chase. Mahela got a leading edge towards point where Ajinkya Rahane took a blinder.
Delhi Daredevils lost Unmukt Chand (23) after their openers put up a decent 39-run stand against Rajasthan Royals.
Pacer Sreesanth provided the visitors an important breakthrough when he clean bowled Chand and reduced Daredevils to 39/1 in 5.4 overs. Chand hit a six and two boundaries in his 19-ball knock.
Electing to bat, Rahul Dravid's 65 and Stuart Binny's 40 propelled Rajasthan Royals to 165/7 .
Delhi Daredevils pacer Umesh Yadav ended Stuart Binny's scintillating knock, who smashed two fours and three sixes in his 20 balls stay at the crease.
Skipper Dravid led from the front as he slammed 40-ball fifty and was involved in two half-century partnerships.
Daredevils made a late comeback as they conceded only six runs in the last two overs and scalped four wickets including the prized wicket of Dravid.
Yadav was the pick of the bowler, finishing with a brilliant spell of four for 24 to help the hosts restrict Royals' charge in the slog overs.
Daredevils' Shahbaz Nadeem broke the crucial second wicket stand between Ajinkya Rahane and Dravid by dismissing the former. Rahane and Dravid set the good platform for the visitors with their 65-run stand.
Rajasthan Royals suffered the first blow as they lost Kushal Perera early after skipper Dravid opted to bat in their first match of the season.
Daredevils pacer Umesh Yadav struck in his first over to dismiss Perera, who smashed back-to-back boundaries before being caught by Irfan Pathan at extra cover.
Brief scores
Rajasthan Royals 165 for 7 (Dravid 65, Binny 40, Yadav 4-24)
Delhi Daredevils 160 for 6 (Warner 77, Cooper 3-30)
Result Rajasthan Royals won by 5 runs
Points Rajasthan Royals 2, Delhi Daredevils 0
MOM Rahul Dravid (Rajasthan Royals)