The home team ended the Gujarat Lions hopes of making it to the qualifiers at the Kotla as Delhi boy Rishabh Pant hit 97 off 43 balls, with a stunning 9 sixes, to help the Daredevils chase down a mammoth 208 runs that Gujarat had set in their first innings. The Delhi side hit a total of 20 sixes, and at one point it seemed to be raining sixes on their way to the highest ever run chase by the Delhi side. This is the second consecutive win by the Delhi side and, moreover, it comes on the back of superb batting performances. In the last match, Delhi chased down a score of 185 set by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, helped by Corey Anderson and Chris Morris who put on 41 off 19 balls to take Daredevils past the target with five balls to spare. Delhi have eight point from 10 matches now, and are still a long way from qualifying, but stand-in skipper Karun Nair and his men have shown us that that they are no pushovers.
The Lions, on the other hand, have flattered to deceive, having lost 3 matches in a row to garner just 8 points from 11 matches. Their hopes of making it to the playoffs are now over, and it looks like the top four teams right now are the ones that are going to the next level.
DD : 214/3, 17.3 overs; Delhi batsmen blow Gujarat away
Faulkner to Corey Anderson, SIX, Delhi have their highest ever run-chase. Anderson gets a full ball and pumps it over long-on to seal what was an easy win in the end
James Faulkner will bowl his third over.
Basil Thampi to Shreyas Iyer, SIX, here’s another. Shuffled across early, and was able to open up the long leg region. Picked the ball up and bottom-handed it over the ropes there. Just 4 needed, the game is as well as over.
Basil Thampi to Corey Anderson, SIX, another six. Length ball, around off and Anderson has swung it over deep square leg. It’s that sort of a day. 18 sixes already.
Basil Thampi is back into the attack.
DD : 189/3, 16.0 overs; Pant Destroys Lions
Seven runs off the over. 20 needed off 24. Delhi are so close to a second win on the trot.
Sangwan to Shreyas Iyer, SIX, oh just a touch overpitched. And so overpitched that the change of pace doesn’t matter much. And to make things worse, Iyer had read it. So waits a little longer and dumps the ball over long-off. More timing than anything else. 20 off 24 needed.
Pradeep Sangwan [3.0-0-36-1] is back into the attack. Delhi Daredevils need 27 runs in 30 balls
Corey Anderson, left handed bat, comes to the crease
Basil Thampi to Pant, out Caught by Karthik!! There’s an appeal but the umpire has been stunned by this kid. Even the umpire. Thampi appeals, and after eliciting an obvious edge, and appeals again and then gets his man. Enthralling innings. Thampi angled this full and across, Pant drives and ekes out an outside edge, that’s been nicely taken by Karthik behind. Erred in not using his feet there, and Thampi is quick. But he was in that sort of a mood. He was hitting everything outta here, so can’t blame him. Not after 97 runs, can we? Pant c Karthik b Basil Thampi 97(43).
12 runs and a wicket off the over, Basil Thampi is the new bowler.
Jadeja to Pant, FOUR, now this is a back foot punch over covers. You have to see it to believe it. Jadeja is from over the wicket to the left hander here. Just a touch short, Pant is so early there to get back and punch it up and over.
Jadeja to Samson, out Caught by Faulkner!! End of a good, good innings. Samson just decided to go across the line, the ball may have spun, and the Samson ended up slicing the slog to towards wide long-off, where Faulkner’s present. “Oh he’ll drop it”. “Gujarat are having a bad day, so this should go down”. But it doesn’t. Faulkner slides in front and takes a good catch. Samson c Faulkner b Jadeja 61(31). A good knock comes to an end. Shreyas Iyer is the new batsman.
12 off the over. Jadeja is back.
Dwayne Smith to Pant, FOUR, he’s wound himself up brilliantly there. So brilliantly that he’s taken a full ball on the stumps and whipped it over backward square leg, cleverly opening that side of the field by shuffling across early and getting into position.
Dwayne Smith to Pant, FOUR, as if the choice of bowling Smith wasn’t enough, the bowlers chooses a full ball to bowl. Clattered over mid-wicket with a disparaging whip. Enough. No one in the deep.
Dwayne Smith, right-arm medium, comes into the attack
16 of the over. They are storming to a second victory here, Delhi. What a game!
Jadeja to Samson, SIX, wide and slotted over covers. And it wasn’t a bad ball from Jadeja, drifting it wide and making Samson reach out. But erred in the length and paid by six runs. That’s it.
Jadeja to Samson, SIX, umm. This looked effortless and it’s gone into the crowd. Just a length ball, turning away and Samson has swatted it over long-on. Clocked 99 meters as if it’s body temperature.
24 runs off this over, Jadeja will bowl the next over, question is, can he stop Pant?
Faulkner to Pant, SIX, this is turning out to be a ridiculously good innings. Unicorns are real, and so are DD chases. Gets a pitched up delivery and slogs it over long-on. No half measures. None at all. Pick the length and swing. Has been so successful so far.
Faulkner to Pant, SIX, what do you do to a slow bouncer? Despite being in a tangle with your footwork. Had the weight back and could pull the bejeezus out of it. Brilliant shot.
Faulkner to Pant, SIX, he was undone by the lack of pace there. Early into the shot but made sure that he swung hard at this. Bruted it. And as much as it lacked the timing, it made up with its power, this shot. Clouted over deep mid-wicket, despite coming off the bottom half of the bat.
Faulkner to Pant, FOUR, oh dear. Ishan Kishan has defied the laws of living and walked through a ball at long leg. Or so it looked. Whipped off the pads, shipped away using the bottom hand and Kishan was charging in, and ran through
16 off the over, Delhi are on fire. Faulkner back into the attack.
Ankit Soni to Samson, SIX, brilliant. Soni floats it up full, Samson is ready for it. Unleashes his muscles and dumps it over the bowler’s head for a maximum. Raina walks up immediately and consoles the bowler
Ankit Soni to Samson, SIX, ugly from Soni. Perhaps, took a cue from his skipper. Half-tracker, sits up nicely for Samson. He gets under it and clubs it over deep mid-wicket.
Raina to Pant, SIX, fifty for Pant. Reaches the landmark in style. A rank long hop from Raina, Pant is onto it in a flash. Skips back and smokes it away into the deep mid-wicket stands. 14 runs off the over. Soni is back into the attack.
Raina to Pant, FOUR, clumsy from Smithy. Makes a royal mess of this one. Pant blasts it hard off the back foot through extra cover. Smithy gets across, slides near the ropes but lets it through his boot laces. Into the fence
10 off the over. Raina back into the attack.
Ankit Soni to Pant, SIX, what a shot. The googly from Soni, but pitches it up fuller outside off. Pant isn’t sparing those. Flexes his arms and murders it straight over the bowler’s head for a maximum.
Ankit Soni, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack.
Raina to Samson, SIX, in the slot and out of the park. 500th six of the tournament. Loops it up in the arc for Samson, no turn. Samson lowers his stance and launches it over cow corner.
Suresh Raina, right-arm off break, comes into the attack.
DD : 63/1, 6.0 overs; Delhi Batting Sets Kotla on Fire
5 runs off the over, good first over by Faulkner. Delhi are on a roll here though.
17 off the over. Faulkner into the attack.
Sangwan to Pant, FOUR, 16 off first 3 balls. Pant is on fire. Protracts his hands to this widish ball and cleverly guides it past short third man. Kotla breaks the sound barrier
Sangwan to Pant, SIX, “Three sixes in a row for Delhi” screams Scott Styris on air. Finesse followed by violence. Loads up big time, gets under this full ball and smashes it over long-on. Soars a long way into the stands.
Sangwan to Pant, SIX, Pant joins into the act. High percentage shot this. Hauls his back leg in the air and elegantly swipes it into the deep square leg stands.
16 off the over. Sangwan back into the attack.
Basil Thampi to Samson, SIX, you cannot afford to spray it on Samson’s pads. Thampi just does that and gets punished. He gets inside the line and whips it nonchalantly behind square. Half a dozen!
Basil Thampi to Pant, SIX, quality from Pant. Thampi bowls it short and compliments it with width, Pant reaches out and spanks it over cover
Sangwan to Nair, out Caught by Karthik!! Number one down. Kotla goes silent. Nair’s failure continues. What was he trying to do there? Awful really. Redemption for Sangwan. Banged it short and it shooted up awkwardly at Nair. He was caught in two minds there. Initially, wanted to leave but then sees it as a scoring opportunity. Arches his back belatedly and tries it periscope it over the keeper. Too late. The ball catches a faint edge and carries to the keeper. Nair c Karthik b Sangwan 12(11). Rishabh Pant is the new batsman.
Sangwan to Samson, SIX, wow. This is from Samson’s refrigarator of awesomeness. Pure class. Drops it a tad short, does Sangwan. Samson is ready for it. Handsomely hacks it behind square, such is the power that it carries all the way for a maximum.
Four runs off the over, Sangwan back into the attack.
Basil Thampi, right-arm medium, comes into the attack.
Sangwan to Nair, FOUR, Nair is off and running. Gets into business straightaway after having a sighter. Backs away to create some room, Sangwan kept it on middle and subsidized with width. Nair brings his bottom hand into play. Just extends his arms and steers it past the crowded off-side field.
Samson and Nair are at the crease. Samson is on strike. Sangwan will open the attack.
GL : 208/7, 20.0 overs; Delhi Set 209 Runs To Win
Corey Anderson to Jadeja, SIX, highest ever total for Gujarat Lions! Delhi Daredevils batting will be tested here today.
Corey Anderson to Jadeja, SIX, that’s a monster! Full and right in the slot for Jadeja to swing his bat hard, goes over long-on.
Pradeep Sangwan, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Corey Anderson to Jadeja, out Caught by (sub)Brathwaite!! Jadeja c (sub)Brathwaite b Corey Anderson 3(4).
He begins with a wide, pushing Gujarat towards a 200 score.
Seven runs and a wicket off the penultimate over, Rabada has made a great comeback. Corey Anderson will bowl the last over of this innings.
Rabada to Finch, out Caught by Pant!! Finch is gone! Excellent catch by Pant. Finch moves leg-side and Rabada follows him with a sharp bouncer. Finch c Pant b Rabada 27(19). James Faulkner, right handed bat, comes to the crease.
Rabada to Finch, FOUR, trademark Finch shot! Backs away and reaches for this fullish ball outside off. Carves it inside out over extra cover. Mid-off is up and there is none to stop that.
Six off the over, Rabada is the next bowler.
Pat Cummins to Finch, FOUR, that’s a good shot! The batsman seemed to have been deceived by the short ball. He adjusted well, jumped and pulled fiercely through mid-wicket
Pat Cummins to Ishan Kishan, out Caught by Shreyas Iyer!! The scratchy knock from the youngster comes to an end. He never looked comfortable in his brief stay. Kishan doesn’t spot the off-cutter and is early to swipe it across the line. The top edge balloons up high in the air. Sheyas Iyer, from long-on, runs forward and takes a good skier. Ishan Kishan c Shreyas Iyer b Pat Cummins 4(6). Ravindra Jadeja is on the crease.
Rabada to Finch, FOUR. Finch was in no control of that shot, still gets a boundary. Quick short ball that keeps following Finch, who moved leg-side. The ball gets big on him. The batsman, with his eyes closed, goes for the pull. The ball pops up and flies wide of short fine and runs away into the fence. Seven off the over, Cummins will bowl the next.
Six singles and a wide, Gujarat have slowed down – seven off the over, Rabada is back into the attack.
Six runs off the over, and a wicket. Corey Anderson will bowl now.
Pat Cummins to Karthik, out Caught by Corey Anderson!! That’s a screamer! Corey Anderson has taken the catch of the tournament. DK has to go. Cummins darts a scrambled seam delivery on a fullish length just outside off. With mid-off inside the circle, the lofted off-drive shot was on. Karthik goes for it, but couldn’t quite get the required timing. His bat turns at the point of impact. The Kiwi all-rounder at mid-off, times his jump to perfection and plucks it with his left hand. The ball had almost gone past him. Karthik c Corey Anderson b Pat Cummins 65(34). Anderson is at the middle of the Delhi comeback again. Ishan Kishan is on the crease.
GL : 158/3, 14.0 overs; Raina, Karthick hit half centuries to put Lions in command
Shami to Finch, FOUR, 19 runs off the over! Finch is underway in a grand style. It was bowled on the stumps, but overpitched. Finch blasts the straight drive. The ball bullets away into the fence. 19 runs and a run out off the over. The Lions are not putting the brakes on the runs here. Pat Cummins is the next bowler.
Shami to Karthik, SIX, wow! Brilliantly played. It was short and wide outside off, Karthik waits for it and slashes it. Didn’t bother to keep it down and up she goes. Over backward point and the ball sails over the boundary rope.
Shami to Karthik, FOUR, shot! On the pads to any sub-continent batsman, he won’t spare you. He moves slightly across and middles the leg-glance. The quick Delhi outfield does the rest.
Shami to Karthik, out Raina Run Out!! Direct hit and the skipper has to walk back. Shami bowls one in the blockhole just outside off, Karthik squirts it out to backwards point. Raina wanted a quick single and is halfway down. That’s when he saw his partner who wasn’t interested in the run. Rabada finds the target direct and Raina is well short. The partnership has been broken. Raina run out (Rabada) 77(43). A captain’s knock here by Raina. Aaron Finch is the new batsman.
Shami to Karthik, FOUR, magnificent shot to start the over! Shami serves width outside off, Karthik leans forward and biffs the drive over Karun Nair at extra cover. Once it cleared him, there was no stopping that
Corey Anderson to Karthik, 1 run, uses his wrists and directs this short of length delivery on the pads through mid-wicket for a single which brings up his 14th IPL fifty! 12 runs off the over. Shami is back for a third over.
Corey Anderson to Karthik, SIX, Karthik is turning the heat on. Not off the middle, but Karthik won’t mind as he got enough wood on his hook against this short ball that sails over the long leg fence.
18 runs off this over. The Lions are on song here. Corey Anderson, left-arm fast medium, comes into the attack.
Nadeem to Raina, FOUR, the slog-sweep, in the air, but Raina has split the fielders in the deep. Deep mid-wicket and deep backward square leg thought they were in the business for a moment. Raina got down low on his knees and timed it well enough.
Nadeem to Karthik, SIX, wowww! The shot of the day for me! The greatest thing about this shot was Karthik didn’t manage to get close to the pitch of the ball after jumping down the pitch, yet went through the lofted inside-out drive and sent it over the cover boundary.
Nadeem to Karthik, SIX, every time the spinners have dropped it short, Karthik has done very well to rock back, make excellent use of the crease and pull it handsomely over mid-wicket. This had a lot of hang time on it. The sixes are flowing from the Lions.
Samuels to Raina, SIX, once again Samuels errs on the fuller side and Raina is not afraid to hit the ball in the air. Hits it very straight and ensures that long-off and long-on were not in the picture. 16 costly runs off the over, the skipper is painting the town red! Shahbaz Nadeem back into the attack.
Samuels to Raina, SIX. When it’s full and that front leg is out of the way, he hardly misses out on the slog. He was down on one knee and smashed this over mid-wicket.
Ten off the over, Samuels back into the attack.
Mishra to Karthik, FOUR, and Mishy continues to struggle against the right-hander, very strange through. It’s a short delivery that turns away, Karthik cuts well through point and beats the sweeper’s dive on the boundary
Samuels to Raina, 2 runs, worked away off the back foot into the vacant mid-wicket region and that’s a fifty for Raina, his 31st in the IPL. Pressure clearly back on Delhi, despite a dream start. Six runs off the over, and the flow of runs is not abating. Amit Mishra into the attack.
Mishra to Karthik, SIX, the googly again, but it’s way too short. Karthik jumps on the back foot, times the pull well enough to send it high in the air and over the mid-wicket boundary. A poor over that from Mishra, bowled well to Raina, but was very poor with his length to Karthik. Marion Samuels into the attack.
Mishra to Karthik, FOUR, gee, what placement! Deliberately swung hard at it with an open bat face to send it through point. This was the googly from Mishra, making it a risky shot against the incoming ball, but the fact that it was too full made his life easy.
GL : 64/2, 7.0 overs; Raina, Karthick steady Gujarat
Just singles and doubles, with a strong LBW appeal, just six runs off the over. Amit Mishra, right arm leg break, will be the new bowler.
12 off the over. Shami is back into the attack.
Pat Cummins to Raina, FOUR, stylish from Raina. Poor full delivery on the pads, deserved to be put away, Raina moved across the sticks just a touch to open up the backward square leg boundary and he placed the flick shot wide of the man at short fine to sign off the over in style.
Pat Cummins to Karthik, FOUR, that’s a lovely piece of timing from Karthik. Should get him going. Karthik made it into a fuller length by using his feet and played an excellent off-drive, the dive goes in vain from mid-off
11 off the over. Pat Cummins into the attack.
Rabada to Raina, SIX, no problems with connecting this one from the middle of the bat. Length ball right in the slot and he’s in the mood to swing at everything, lofts down the ground, goes over mid-on and goes all the way. Somehow, Raina has raced to 33 off 17 balls.
15 runs off the over. Kagiso Rabada [1.0-0-3-1] is back into the attack
Shami to Raina, FOUR, this man is great with his inside-out lofted drives over the cover region. Can’t really say that this is a bad ball from the bowler. Middle and leg line on a good length, Raina moved leg-side and played that easily over extra-cover. It turns out it was a mistake to remove Rabada.
Shami to Raina, FOUR, the short ball but Raina backed away early to free his arms. Slashed at it with an open bat face to deliberately hit over the top through point for four
Shami to Raina, SIX, Shami serves up a length ball on the leg stump, Raina is good when he connects those slogs and he has done decently well this time, flew over wide mid-on
Mohammed Shami, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
Seven runs off the over, GL are struggling here.
Pat Cummins to Raina, FOUR, uppish, but not convincing. Short of a length delivery on the leg stump, Raina chips it over the infield, more towards square leg, luckily for the visitors, the ball went in the gap
Pat Cummins is the new bowler.
GL : 13/2, 2.0 overs; GL Lose Smith and McCullum
Rabada to Raina, 1 run, it’s dropped this time. Two wickets, one just escaped the fielder and then one was put down. Three runs off it.
Rabada to Raina, out Dwayne Smith Run Out!! This is disaster for Gujarat Lions. Both the openers gone in successive balls. Raina took a couple of steps out of his crease after playing this ball gently to mid-wicket, Smith thought the skipper was keen on a run, but was shocked when Raina stopped suddenly. The West Indian tried to rush back but a bullet through from Nadeem meant his bat was on the line when the stumps where disturbed. Dwayne Smith run out (Nadeem) 9(4)
Rabada to Brendon McCullum, out Caught by Pant!! A peach from Rabada. The hard-hitting Baz McCullum is walking back with just a solitary run to his name. Rabada angled this short of length delivery into the right-hander from wide of the crease, the ball moved away late, just enough movement to take the outside edge of McCullum’s bat as he was looking to defend away from the body. Pant dives to his right and takes a good catch. Brendon McCullum c Pant b Rabada 1. Dinesh Kartick, right handed bat, is the new batsman.
Kagiso Rabada is the next bowler.
Ten runs off the first over for the Lions.
Nadeem to Dwayne Smith, FOUR, that’s swept away over backward square leg and it’s four more. This was a delivery down the leg-side, Smith sweeps, gets a bit of top edge but he swung hard to send it over the infield.
Nadeem to Dwayne Smith, FOUR, turn straightaway for Nadeem and he finds the outside edge. Smith was on the front foot to defend, the turn took the thick outside edge of the bat and it flew past the man at slip. The Lions are off the mark, off the first ball.
Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum are at the crease. Dwayne Smith is on strike. Nadeem will open the attack
Teams:
Delhi Daredevils (Playing XI): Sanju Samson, Karun Nair(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Shreyas Iyer, Marlon Samuels, Corey Anderson, Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, Shahbaz Nadeem, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami
Gujarat Lions (Playing XI): Ishan Kishan, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina(c), Aaron Finch, Dwayne Smith, Dinesh Karthik(w), Ravindra Jadeja, James Faulkner, Pradeep Sangwan, Basil Thampi, Ankit Soni
During the toss, Karun mentioned that Jayant comes back in for Nadeem. He might have intended to say the converse I assume. Because, Jayant did play the last game and Nadeem didn’t.
Raina: We would have loved to bowled first here. But we just have to go out there and put runs on the board, and the rest is upto the bowlers. We just have to go there and express yourself. Go there with the right approach and enjoy the game. We are playing with the same eleven.
Karun: We are bowling first. We did well last game and there will be dew later on, so I prefer chasing. We gained momentum by winning the last game. We want to take one game at a time and enjoy ourselves. Three changes: Morris, Mathews, Jayant OUT. Cummins, Samuels and Nadeem are in.
Delhi Daredevils have won the toss and have opted to field
