Delhi Daredevils ease past KIngs XI Punjab

Delhi Daredevils ease past KIngs XI Punjab


Media Release For immediate Publication

Gambhir steers Delhi Daredevils to five-wicket victory

Post-Match Report: Match-3 Delhi Daredevils vs Kings XI Punjab, PCA Stadium, 13th March, 2010.

Mohali, March 13: Skipper Gautam Gambhir steered Delhi Daredevils to a five- wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab to start their campaign on a winning note in the third match of IPL 2010 at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here today. The Captain of the Delhi Daredevils - Gambhir, who was out in the last over, struck a classical 72 (54 balls, 9x4, 1x6) but Delhi Daredevils made heavy weather of a modest target of 143 before squeezing home in 19.5 overs.

S Sreesanth bowled a lively spell at the start by taking two big wickets to keep Kings XI Punjab in the hunt. He removed the dangerous Virender Sehwag (8) and T Dilshan (0) in the second over itself. South African AB de Villiers, who survived a run out call early on, was not lucky a second time as Mahela Jayawardene’s throw from short third man had him stranded at non-striker’s end. Dinesh Karthik was caught in the deep for 20 and the Delhi Daredevils were in a spot of bother at 79/4 after 12.2 overs. Kings XI Punjab fared badly in the field and they missed another chance in the 19th over, this time Irfan Pathan dropping a sitter at long on and the lucky batsman was Mithun Manhas (31 not out), who shared 61 runs for the fifth with Gambhir in the successful run chase.

Electing to field first, the Delhi Daredevils bowlers stuck to their guns pretty well as they pushed Kings XI Punjab to a corner. Delhi Daredevils pace quartet of Dirk Nannes, Farveez Maharoof, Pradeep Sangwan and Yo Mahesh inflicted heavy blows at regular intervals. Kings XI Punjab’s misery started in the second over when MS Bisla was run out and then the newly appointed skipper Kumara Sangakarra was smartly held at backward point by Sangwan. Yuvraj Singh, playing his first match after the injury in Bangladesh, fell to a skier at mid-on and former Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene was out first ball, caught behind. Kings XI were struggling at 44 for four in 6.1 overs.

England opener Ravi Bopara and Irfan Pathan repaired the damage with a 60-run stand for the fifth wicket. Part-time off spinner TM Dilshan broke the pair by having the left-handed Pathan stumped for a 16-ball 21. Meanwhile, Bopara completed his half-century off 41 balls. However, the Delhi Daredevils made further inroads by dismissing Mohd Kaif, who switched over from Rajasthan Royals. He was stumped off leg spinner Amit Mishra at 113 and Kings XI Punjab lost one more wicket at the same score with Bopara playing a horrible shot to be caught behind for 58 (48 balls, 7x4, 1x6). Nannes, the Australian left-arm seamer, returned with impressive figures of 2 for 12 (Piyush Chawla and Ramesh Powar).

Delhi Daredevils skipper Gautham Gambhir said he batted through as he thought it was tough. "Sreesanth bowled well and we lost three early wickets. But I thought Mithun (Manhas) batted well and we stiched a partnership,'' he said.

Kings XI captain Sangakarra said they did not bat well. “It is early days yet in the league, but we recovered well through Ravi (Bopara) and Irfan (Pathan),'' he said. Sangakarra said chasing a modest 142 was difficult but Sreesanth boweld very well.

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