Royals hold nerve to open IPL account

The result: Rajasthan Royals 5-153 (Rahane 45, Nadeem 2-34) defeated Delhi Daredevils 4-60 (Pant 20, Laughlin 2-20) by 10 runs on DLS method.

The match in a tweet: Runs on the board the winning formula as Delhi's big guns fail to fire in Rajasthan's return to Sawai Mansingh Stadium #RRvDD

The run out: It's been an unfortunate start to D'Arcy Short's IPL career after the star Aussie recruit again failed to fire; run out for single-digits for the second straight occasion. After working a Shabhaz Nadeem delivery to the on-side, Short took off toward the non-striker's end with intent. Too much intent as it turned out - opening partner Ajinkya Rahane turning around immediately for a second, while Short hesitated at the other end. His brief pause proved fatal as Vijay Shankhar whipped the ball in from mid-on with a direct hit to catch the Hobart Hurricanes star well short of his ground for six to give the Daredevils a prized early wicket.

The standout: In a match bereft of any major highlights, local rising star Sanju Samson's 37 off 22 deliveries proved a telling knock. The young wicket-keeper batsman, who has been earmarked as a potential successor to MS Dhoni behind the stumps in India's national line-up, did his stocks no harm after smashing two fours and two sixes to steady the ship for Rajasthan after coming in at 2-28. Striking at 168, the 23-year-old showed plenty of poise and class after dispatching two maximums over the on-side and finding the rope twice more on the off to help boost Rajasthan's total and put the pressure on Delhi's run chase.

The game-changer: There was an unfamiliar sight as rain hit Jaipur to bring a halt to the match, but play eventually resumed at midnight with a revised total of 71 off six overs. And it seemed a tailor-made scenario for Glenn Maxwell, who was elevated to open Delhi's innings alongside Colin Munro. And while the mercurial T20 maestro looked ominous early with three quick boundaries, it was a familiar foe in fellow Aussie Ben Laughlin who saw off the threat for the Royals. A deft leg-cutter caught the edge of Maxwell's bat to have him out for 17 as the visitors eventually fell 10 runs short, Rajasthan extending their winning streak to seven over the the Daredevils and recording their first win of IPL 11.

The Aussie pack: Another misstep for D'Arcy Short after he was run out for a single-digit score for the second straight time, while Glenn Maxwell produced a typically entertaining knock at the top of the order for Delhi with three boundaries in his 12-delivery stay at the crease. But his wicket for 17 was a major blow for the Daredevils' run chase, as Ben Laughlin picked up two wickets in as many overs to help guide the Royals to their first win of the season. 

The next stop: Delhi head to Wankhede Stadium to face the Mumbai Indians on Saturday night, while Rajasthan try to make it two in two against the star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru on Sunday.