Delhi Daredevils remains at top, thanks to last ball victory
Delhi Daredevils, helped by a sensational penultimate over by Morne Morkel after skipper Virender Sehwag showed the way with the bat, snatched a jaw-dropping last-ball victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on Sunday. Daredevils gave the packed crowd at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium a few heart-stopping moments. The one-run defeat, though, would be nothing short of a heartbreak for the Royals who came tantalisingly close before running out of steam in the last two overs. After Daredevils stuttered to 152 for six, Rajasthan looked to be cruising on the strength of the 99-run opening-wicket partnership between captain Rahul Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane, who made an unbeaten 84. But they could manage only 151 for three in 20 overs.
Rajasthan Royals captain Rahul Dravid said it was pacer Morne Morkel who should get the credit for Delhi Daredevil’s thrilling one run win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Feroze Shah Kotla. The lanky South African bowled a decisive penultimate over giving away just three runs and taking the wicket of Australian Brad Hodge, that left Rajasthan needing 12 runs off the last over. Rajasthan came close as they needed two to win off the last ball but wicketkeeper Naman Ojha ran out Owais Shah to give Daredevils the win. Dravid said that Ajinkya Rahane, who top scored with 84 not out, had a bright future ahead of him and if he continued in the same vein he would do well for India too. Dravid though praised his team, specially his bowlers but lamented not winning the close games.
Earlier, electing to bat, Daredevils’s innings centered around Sehwag’s rapid 63 (39b, 8×4, 2×6) after both Mahela Jayawardene and Kevin Pietersen, who will now return to England for the series against the West Indies, were back in the dugout with 19 runs on the board. The Daredevils skipper was unsparing in his bid to accelerate the scoring. It mattered little that the man at the other end, Ross Taylor, struggled to find his rhythm. Taylor, sent up the order, however, hung on to add 80 for the third-wicket with Sehwag.
Yogesh Nagar swung his bat to accelerate the scoring at the death. In the last over, he twice smacked Amit Singh for six before being caught at deep mid-wicket off the penultimate ball. A boundary from Irfan Pathan off the last ball meant Amit had conceded 20 runs in the last over and these runs, in hindsight, proved priceless for Daredevils.
Tags: Cricket, Delhi Daredevils, Indian Premier League, IPL 2012, IPL 5, Rajasthan Royals, Virender Sehwag
