Delhi Capitals beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets in IPL

BENGALURU: Delhi Capitals defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets in the Indian Premier League on Saturday, with South Africa's David Miller striking two sixes and a four in the final over to seal the chase.

After Bengaluru were held to 175-8 on what was described as a sluggish pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Delhi's reply suffered an early setback as swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Pathum Nissanka, impact substitute Karun Nair and Sameer Rizvi within the first three overs.

Delhi then rebuilt through KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs. Rahul made 57 from 34 balls, and the pair added 69 runs for the fourth wicket to revive the innings. However, the contest shifted again when Rahul was dismissed by Krunal Pandya, allowing Bengaluru to push back into the match.

According to AFP, Delhi still needed 42 runs from 25 balls when Miller came to the crease to join fellow South African Stubbs after captain Axar Patel retired hurt on 26.

Bengaluru remained in command until Romario Shepherd, bowling for the first time in the match, was brought on to defend 15 runs in the last over. Miller then turned the game decisively, hitting Shepherd over mid-wicket and over cover for sixes before completing the win with a flicked four over mid-wicket. Stubbs stayed unbeaten on 60 and anchored the chase through to the finish. "When I walked out, Stubbo (Stubbs) said to me to keep the intensity really hard and that helped; it's always good finishing off games with Stubbo and he just said, 'thank you so much, you saved me there'. For him being there was massive for us," Miller said.

The result ended Delhi's two-match losing run, while Bengaluru suffered their first home defeat in four matches this season. Bhuvneshwar's strong spell with the new ball ultimately did not produce a winning outcome for the home side.

Bengaluru's innings

Earlier, Bengaluru opener Phil Salt dominated the early stages after Axar elected to field first. Salt and Virat Kohli put on 52 for the opening stand, with Salt taking advantage of conditions when the ball was still new and hard.

Salt played a series of attacking shots and reached his half-century in just 30 deliveries. Despite that start, Bengaluru were restricted to 175-8, a total Delhi eventually chased down with six wickets in hand.

The match turned on Delhi's recovery after the early collapse and Miller's late hitting, with Stubbs' unbeaten knock providing the platform for the visitors to complete the chase.