Manish Pandey and Robin Uthappa scored half-centuries as Pune Warriors managed to recover from a disastrous start to score 146 for two against Delhi Daredevils in an IPL match.
Published: Apr 24, 2012, 05:23 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 24, 2012, 05:23 PM (IST)
Manish Pandey top scored with 80 runs © AFP
Pune, Apr 24, 2012
Manish Pandey and Robin Uthappa scored half-centuries as Pune Warriors managed to recover from a disastrous start to score 146 for two against Delhi Daredevils in an IPL match.
Pandey — who wasn’t exactly in his element having failed in the first four matches roared back to form with an unbeaten 80 off 56 balls that had seven boundaries and three sixes. His unbroken partnership of 145 for the third wicket with Robin Uthappa (60 no, 58 balls, 6×4) ensured that home team put on a total with which their bowlers can atleast fight.
Having managed only 50 in the first 10 overs, the Karnataka duo smashed 96 off the back 10.
Electing to bat first, Warriors did not have a good start to their innings as Irfan Pathan accounted for in-form Jesse Ryder with the second ball of the match. The Kiwi left-hander was played on as the delivery kept a bit low.
Things got even worse for the hosts as skipper Suorav Ganguly charged out against Morne Morkel in the next over only managing to get a thick outside edge down to Shabaz Nadeem at third-man.
With the Pune left tattering at 1/2, it was left to Uthappa and Pandey to ressurect the innings.
After starting off in a subdued manner, both the batsmen went for their shots bringing up the 50 of the Pune innings in the 10th over of the match.
Pandey was lucky to get a ‘life’ after Kevin Pietersen put him down at long-on off the bowling of Pawan Negi in the ninth over.
The Karnatka lad, again got lucky when Nadeem dropped him of his own bowling in the 14th over. The 22-year-old, however, did not get bogged down by the incident as he hammered Pathan over the mid-wicket fence in the next over for the second six of his innings just after bringing up his half-century in the previous delivery.
As Pandey went for his shots, Uthappa was happy playing the second fiddle as rotated the strike well. He also hit the occasional boundaries. However it was Pandey whose attractive strokes including a steer off Umesh Yadav was a real treat. (PTI)
Brief Score: PWI 146 for 2 in 20 overs (Manish Pandey 80, Robin Uthappa 60; Irfan Pathan 1 for 23) vs DD
