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Gujarat Lions (DL) vs Delhi Daredevils (DD) IPL 2016 Match 31 at Rajkot: Highlights

Delhi Daredevils (DD) continued to take giant strides towards being reckoned as one of the most dangerous teams in the Indian Premier League.

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Rishabh Pant made his first impression at IPL stage © AFP
Rishabh Pant made his first impression at IPL stage © AFP

Delhi Daredevils (DD) continued to take giant strides towards being reckoned as one of the most dangerous teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016, when they slammed the high-flying Gujarat Lions (GL) by 8 wickets in the final match of this tournament at Rajkot. Gujarat Lions (GL) have now lost two games on the trot and they will need some hard work to get their campaign back on the track. Rishabh Pant slammed a brilliant 69 off 40 balls, and was deservingly awarded the Man of the Match. Let us take a look at the highlights of the game. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Gujarat Lions vs Delhi Daredevils, IPL 2016, Match 31 at Rajkot

Gujarat Lions (GL) make horrendous start: The Gujarat Lions (GL) have perhaps one of the best top-order in the tournament, with some of the best T20 batsmen in their ranks. Aaron Finch was included in this game in place of Dwayne Bravo, and he batted at No. 3 for Gujarat Lions (GL). However, they made a horrendous start as Gujarat Lions (GL) kept  losing wickets at regular intervals, but the poor show by their top order — Dwayne Smith (15), Brendon McCullum (1) and Finch (5) — perhaps brought an end to all their chances to win the game. ALSO READ: Rishabh Pant’s swashbuckling half-century thunders Delhi Daredevils past Gujarat Lions in IPL 2016

Delhi Daredevils (DD) keep chipping away with wickets: Playing on a flat deck, it was imperative for any team batting first to put up a big score. However, Gujarat Lions (GL) failed to do that, as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and could never reach a momentum that could help them to set up a big score. From a precarious position of 24 for 3, Gujarat Lions (GL) were revived by a 51-run stand between Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik. However, the dismissal of Raina at the team total of 75 proved to be too much to handle, as Gujarat Lions (GL) failed to gather the momentum that they needed so desperately.

Dinesh Karthik’s half-century: Raina failed to make a big score when he was stumped for 24 off 20, and it was left to Dinesh Karthik to shepherd the rest of the batting and get a big score himself. Karthik did not disappoint; he did get a half-century but it was not studded with attacking strokes which are regular features in T20 innings. Karthik scored 53 off 43 balls, studded with only 5 boundaries and his effort told the tale of a careful knock constructed to keep all the dangers away, helping his side to reach a total with which they can fight.

Rishabh Pant makes first appearance: The left-handed dashing batsman made his first impression at the IPL stage, as he clobbered 9 boundaries and 2 sixes to score 69 off 40 balls. Pant played with tremendous confidence, striking boundaries all around the park but one particular stroke was the highlight of his innings. The fourth ball of the second over by Dhawal Kulkarni had some width, and all Pant did was opening the face of the bat at the right time. The ball dissected the field, and at the end of it the stroke looked like one of the best cover drives seen in this IPL.

(Devarchit Varma is senior writer with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)

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