Published: Apr 28, 2016, 12:55 AM (IST)
Edited: Apr 28, 2016, 07:05 AM (IST)
The 23rd game of the Indian Premier League between Delhi Daredevils and Gujarat Lions at Delhi turned out to be a nerve-wracking one as the game went down to the final delivery which saw GL romping home to another victory by a solitary run. Chris Morris was the centre of attraction as he bowled magnificently and then played a brilliant cameo to steer DD on the brink of an implausible victory. IPL 2016, Match 23, Pick of the tweets: Delhi Daredevils vs Gujarat Lions at Delhi
DD won the toss and opted to field first on a wicket which looked dry and conducive for batting. When Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith started the proceedings for GL, many thought DD have made a huge blunder by choosing to field as both the openers wrecked havoc at Ferozshah Kotla. Smith fired with all guns so as McCullum and got their team off to a flying start.
Smith after scoring a tenacious 53 was trapped leg before by Imran Tahir and had to walk back but had done the job for his side. Moments later, McCullum was deceived by a slower one from Morris which hit the timber and turned the game in GL’s favour. The visitors were still in command with many overs to be bowled but their middle-order made a mess of the speedy start as they failed to keep the momentum going.
Raina once again struggled against a short pitched delivery as he squandered another opportunity to make an impact. Wickets kept tumbling and the run rate was just miserable, somehow, GL managed a fighting total 172 on the board. The total was easily below the par as the target once looked above 200 ended up on a mere 172.
Chasing 172, was never going to be an easy task against the formidable bowling attack of GL which hails of Dwayne Bravo, Dhawal Kulkarni, James Faulkner and Praveen Kumar. Kulkarni steamed in accounted for three early wickets which broke the spine of DD’s batting line up. DD looked vulnerable and never gave an impression that they would get back into the game.
JP Duminy held on to his fort and gave GL a run for their money. Debutant Rishabh Pant failed to convert his good start into a big score as he was dismissed for 20. The storm was yet to arrive with Morris making his way to the middle. He came out all guns blazing and played a fabulous cameo of 82 from just 32 deliveries. DD needed 18 runs from last two overs with a set Morris at the crease, however, Dwayne Bravo and Praveen Kumar bowled magnificently and snatched the game from the jaws of defeat.
Turning Point: DD were in a commanding position with Morris going berserk and their side needed 18 runs from 12 deliveries. Praveen Kumar was given the responsibility of bowling the crucial 19th over and he certainly did a ,marvelous job by giving away just four runs. He went for the yorkers and got it dead right as he brought his experience into play. The last over saw DD requiring runs which was a huge task.
Brief Scores:
Gujarat Lions 172 for 6 in 20 overs [Dwayne Smith 53(30), Brendon McCullum 60(36); Imran Tahir 4-0-24-3, Chris Morris 4-0-35-2] beat Delhi Daredevils 171 for 5 in 20 overs [JP Duminy 48 (43), Chris Morris 82 (32); Dhawal Kulkarni 4-1-19-3, Dwayne BRavo 4-0-40-1] by 1 run.
(Suraj Choudhari, an avid cricket follower who plays the sport at club level, is a staffer with Criclife)
