luck finally smiled on Delhi Daredevils thanks to the bowlers, who exploited the fast pitch of the newly constructed Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium with sheer speed, restricting Pune Warriors to 149.
For the triumph, equal credit also went to well wishes of majority of Raipureans watching them in stands including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, a cricket enthusiast himself who favoured DD to the core of heart, along with the late charge by David Warner who assaulted the Pune Warriors bowlers in a brutal fashion as Delhi Daredevils posted a competitive 164 for five in their Pepsi Indian Premier league match here today. Warner blasted his way to an unbeaten 25-ball 51 as he saved the Daredevils from what could have been another woeful batting performance.
Warner blasted his way to an unbeaten 25-ball 51 as he saved the Daredevils from what could have been another woeful batting performance. Credit should also be given to Kedar Jadhav (25), who played the role of second fiddle to Warner to perfection, as the duo added 63 runs in only 5.5 overs to put home team on a pedestal. Jadhav hit two sixes in his 19-ball knock.
Warner hit four boundaries and four huge sixes with 21 runs coming off the penultimate over bowled by Kane Richardson. In fact, three of his four sixes were hit off Richardson who bowled the 'right length' to be smashed over the ropes. The final five overs yielded 63 runs with 96 runs coming off the back 10.
Warner, who is Daredevils’ highest scorer in the league by a distance, scored his third half century despite coming in to bat at number four. Put in to bat, Daredevils captain Mahela Jayawardene (12) got bogged down and was holed out by luke Wright off Ashoke Dinda's bowling, but Virender Sehwag was watchful during the Powerplay overs before he opened up. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was hit for a straight six and a boundary and he repeated with another pulled six off a slow bouncer from luke Wright.
Just when it looked that the veteran opener is getting into the groove for a big score, Sehwag failed to read a slow bouncer from Dinda as he committed early to a pull shot only to be caught by Robin Uthappa behind the stumps. Sehwag made 29 off 26 balls with two boundaries and a couple of sixes and was out in the 10th over. Unmukt Chand (17), drafted in place of Manprit Juneja, did precious little to help his case. During his 19-ball stay, he looked scratchy and failed to find the gaps on most occasions. When Rahul Sharma bowled a straighter one, the former India Under-19 skipper rocked back to play the cut shot but the faint edge was smartly snapped up by Uthappa. From 68 for one, it suddenly became 68 for three and Rohrer joined hands with Warner.
Warner's first attacking shot was a slogged six off Rahul as Rohrer was content playing singles. The duo added 28 runs in only 3.2 overs and recovery looked imminent.
Rohrer (13) tried an expansive drive off Abhishek Nayar but Uthappa, standing upto a medium pacer, showed razor-sharp reflexes to take his third catch of the innings.
Warner continued to wage a lone battle as he smacked Richardson over deep square leg for a second six.
The stocky Warner punished Dinda, who conceded 13 runs in his third over and the 17th of the innings, with the Aussie hitting three boundaries.