The match between Delhi Daredevils and Pune Warriors was a match of euquals yet unequal teams, as Pune Warriors placed at top position was to face DD placed at bottom of the table without any win. Delhi Daredevils needed a win, were looking for a winner, finally Can DD Finally Win!all the batsmen joined hands and high score of Warriors was chased comfortably.
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Can DD Finally Win!
Ryder and Yuvi Take Pune Warriors to High Total
Sent to bat first, opener Ryder started assault from the first over. When he was out by 10th over, Pune Warriors had already posted the second highest total in first-10 overs of 2011 edition, reaching 98/3. Next 7 overs saw only 47 runs scored with 2 more wickets gone, including Mohnish Mishra the player of the match of last match of Pune Warriors. Yuvraj Singh had seen enough during that phase and decided to take his chances. He remained undefeated on 66 hitting 5 sixes, 3 of which came in the last three balls of Pune Warriors innings, in the last over of Dinda, who had before that given just 17 runs in 3 overs taking 2 wickets. 187/5 appeared more than safe total considering the poor performances of DD batsmen last two matches.
DD openers attack, Venu, Finch and Hopes Finish the Match
Warner and Sehwag attacked from the first over, they hardly have other option. When Warner was out in 7th over, Delhi had already scored 75 runs. At the end of 10th over, Sehwag was out on 37 runs and DD were at par with required run rate scoring 98 runs. Later when Pathan, Naman Ojha and Wade fell in quick succession and DD was reeling at 120/5 in 14 overs, 3rd consecutive defeat was looming large. But, their best performer Venugopal Rao again made the difference. THis time his good score finally contributed to their win.
Venugopal scored 20-ball 31 runs, and added 47 runs in the company of Finch who took just 12 balls to score 25 runs with 2 sixes. Yuvraj took out both of them in his last and team’s 19th over. James was the only hope of DD for the final 10 overs remainig. He needed just 2 balls of Ryder to take Delhi home with 4 balls remaining. The combined effort of their batsmen took them home. None could score half-century, but played just to win the game and got the first win for Delhi Daredevils.
Surprises of the Match
Yuvraj finally decided to bowl in IPL 2011 when 6 of his bowlers were failing to reduce the run flow. He finished with 4 wickets giving just 29 runs in 4 over spell, but the depth in DD’s batting needed other bowlers also to take wickets, which they could not. Still his bowling and batting performance of unbeaten 66 runs earned him player of the Match award.
Venugopal Could not do a Valthaty
Sehwag asked Venugopal to open the bowling. Probably the inspiration came from Gilchrist asking Valthaty to bowl and his success. Venugopal has been the highest scorer of DD, as Valthaty is for his team. But, unfortunately in bowling he could not succeed as Valthaty did. In the only over Venugopal bowled he gave 14 runs.
Yuvraj Sing – Player of the Match
Yuvi, the losing captain, was the highest individual scorer of the match, as well as the best bowler of the match from both sides. He remained unbeaten on 66 runs, that included 22 runs in the last over with 3 sixes coming off the last 3 balls. He also took 4 wickets, and did his best to win the game single-handedly, but with every DD batsmen contributing some runs, it was not possible to take 10 wickets for him in just 4 overs.
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