Needing a win to stay afloat in the playoff race, Delhi Capitals clawed their way back into the contest through Mitchell Starc’s incisive four-wicket burst after Rajasthan Royals threatened to post a massive total with a blazing top-order effort in their IPL match here on Sunday.

Asked to bat, Rajasthan looked set for a 220-plus score after racing to 160 for two in 14 overs, but Starc’s superb spell of 4/40 triggered a dramatic collapse as the visitors eventually finished on 193 for eight. The visitors managed just 33 runs and lost six wickets to lose the plot.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal began brightly, driving and cutting fluently against Starc, but his stay was brief as Lungi Ngidi removed him for 12.

Teen sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi then lit up the innings with another fearless knock. The youngster mixed elegant stroke-play with mature defence and aggression, scoring at a rapid pace while taking on the Capitals attack with confidence.

Suryavanshi was handed a reprieve on 31 when Sameer Rizvi dropped him while running backwards off Tripurana Vijay, and the left-hander continued to attack before eventually falling for 46.

Playing only his second IPL game, Madhav Tiwari provided the breakthrough as Suryavanshi failed to clear the ropes while attempting a lofted hit straight down the ground.

At the other end, Dhruv Jurel (53) played the perfect supporting role before accelerating smoothly. Jurel took Mukesh Kumar apart with two fours and a six as Rajasthan ended the powerplay at a commanding 75 for one.

Jurel and Suryavanshi added 70 runs for the second wicket to put Delhi under severe pressure.

Skipper Riyan Parag (51) continued the assault. He nearly perished early when Madhav induced a mistimed heave with a short ball, but Tristan Stubbs could not complete a low catch cleanly.

Parag made Delhi pay heavily thereafter. He launched Axar Patel for towering sixes and then hammered Mukesh Kumar for 23 runs in an over as Rajasthan’s scoring rate nearly touched 12 an over. Parag soon overtook Jurel in scoring pace and brought up a brisk half-century.

Just when Rajasthan seemed poised for a daunting finish, Starc swung the momentum decisively. The Australian left-arm quick dismissed the rampaging Parag to provide Delhi a desperately-needed breakthrough.

Starc then struck again immediately, removing Donovan Ferreira for a golden duck, and followed it up a ball later by trapping Ravi Singh leg-before as Rajasthan suddenly slipped to 161 for six.

Madhav joined party, dismissing Shubham for five as Rajasthan lost four wickets in the space of 15 deliveries and the flow of runs dried up considerably.

Despite the collapse around him, Jurel stayed composed to complete a well-crafted half-century, anchoring the innings till the final overs.

Starc returned to remove impact substitute Dasun Shanaka for 10 and finish with four wickets, his best haul of the season and a timely intervention in a must-win encounter for Delhi.