Delhi Capitals returned to the top of the Indian Premier League on Saturday after beating Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs in Abu Dhabi.
Shreyas Iyer (43) and Shimron Hetmyer (28) helped Rishabh Pant's men to 154-6 before Anrich Nortje (2-18) led a disciplined bowling effort to stifle the chase.
After losing Liam Livingstone and David Miller in the powerplay thanks to slick fielding from Pant, the brilliance of the unbeaten Sanju Samson (70 not out) was not enough to keep the Royals' hopes alive.
Mahipal Lomror (19) was the only other batsman to reach double figures against a strong Capitals attack, Nortje and Ravichandran Ashwin (1-20) taking three wickets between them – as many boundaries as they allowed throughout.
After the Capitals lost the toss, Shikhar Dhawan was skittled by Kartik Tyagi after facing just eight balls, with Prithvi Shaw following in the next over, but there were no further slip-ups.
Hetmyer's 28 off 16 deliveries built on the good work of Iyer and Pant before a late flourish from Lalit Yadav (14) helped set a formidable target.
Once the Royals lost three wickets in the first five overs, the result seemed a formality, despite the best efforts of Samson, who hit eight fours and a six off 53 balls.
The Capitals are back on top of the table, two points above Chennai Super Kings ahead of their clash with Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday.
'One of the best'
Delhi are now on a run of six wins in seven IPL games against the Royals, who are down in sixth in the standings but level on points with the KKR in fourth.
"If not the best, it is one of the best," Pant said of his attack after more exemplary bowling. "But we like to take it as one match at a time. There's a fair bit of planning, as a team we plan according to the batters, and execute according to those plans."
Little joy for Samson
While he did not get the support he needed at the other end, Samson did at least reach the milestone of 100 sixes for the Royals in the IPL.
He is the second batsman to reach that tally for the franchise, after Shane Watson (109).