Rajasthan Royals registered their 5th IPL win over Delhi Daredevils in a close match. DD has looked weak but they were well on course to mend ways with a win after their loss in the first match. Warner played a responsible innings, two dropped catches and his patient knock took him to 19th over, but his stunning run out by Hodge turned the game. West Indies youngster Cooper needed to save 9 runs in the last over. He grabbed Botha and Russell giving only 3 runs taking his team to 5-run win in their opening match.
IPL 2013 Schedule and Results
Match Preview
Match Facts
- Captain Dravid was declared MOM for his 9th IPL half-century.
Dravid at 40 became the second oldest cricketer after Gilchrist to score a half-century.
RR registered 5th IPL win, against 6 losses vs DD.
Final Score: 165/7 (RR), 160/6 (DD)
6 overs: 45/1 (RR), 39/1 (DD)
10 overs 73/1 (RR), 73/1 (DD)
50 runs: 6.5 ov (RR), 7.1 ov (DD)
100 runs: 13 ov (RR), 13 ov (DD)
150 runs: 17.1 ov (RR), 18.1 ov (DD)
6s/4s: 5/14 (RR), 3/13 (DD)
Best Bowling: 4/24 Umesh Yadav, 22/1 Nadeem (DD), 18/1 Sreesanth, 30/3 Cooper (RR)
Best Batting: 65 (Dravid), 77 (Warner)
RR Innings
Rajasthan Royals started with the intent to score high on a low scoring pitch. Their young guns Kushal Perera of Sri Lanka and Rahane tried to increase run rate on the bowling of Irfan Pathan, Nehra and Umesh Yadav. After hitting two consecutive boundaries in 3rd over Perera (12 ball, 14 runs with 3 boundaries) was caught next ball on Yadav’s bowling. The score read 22/1 after 3 overs. Dravid came at number 3 and added 55 runs in 8/3 overs when Rahane failed to understand Nadeem’s ball scoring 28 runs (24 balls with 3 boundaries). Stuart Binny, whose father Roger Binny has played Ranji trophy with Dravid in 1991, joined Dravid and contributed quick 40 runs (in 20 balls with 3 sixes and 2 boundaries) in the partnership of 57 runs in 4.4 overs, while Dravid reached his half-century in 40 balls and was finally caught by Mahela on the bowling of Yadav after scoring 65 runs (51 balls, 2 sixes, 6 boundaries) in 19th over. 19th over saw Yadav taking a double with the wicket of Brad Hodge (5 runs in 7 balls), awaiting hattrick ball in next match, and then Nehra sent Cooper (2 runs) and Menaria (1 run) on consecutive balls of the last over. Still the damage was done as 165/7 was a healthy total for the wicket.
For Delhi Daredevils Umesh Yadav (4/24) and Nadeem (1/22) were the pick of the bowlers. Nehra (2/35) was expensive despite taking the two wickets of tailenders in the last over.
DDs Chase
Dravid started with Badree, but it din’t work as Warner and Chand applied sense. Sreesanth from the other end was more effective. Both bowled the first 6 overs gave away 39 runs and Chand (23 runs, 19 balls, 1 six, 2 boundaries) was bowled in the 6th over by Sreesanth. In between Dravid could not catch Warner’s hit in the 4th over and the damage forced him leave the match. Hodge was the acting captain till the end.
Mahela joined Warner. Sreesanth completed his quota in the 7th over with impressive 18/1. Cooper, Trivedi and Shukla bowled till 14th over. Teams were going neck to neck. Mahela (19 runs, 16 balls, 1 boundary) went after a stunning catch by Rahane on the bowling of Shukla in 11th over. The score read 82/2.
Juneja joined Warner. Badree came to complete his spell. Warner was now dropped by substitute Chavan. Stuart Binny was introduced in 16th over. Juneja hit a six of him and reached 20 runs in 18 balls with a boundary and a six before being caught by Hodge on the bowling of Cooper in the 18th over.
Warner was still running comfortably, almost certain of a DDs win. But then in the 19th over stand-in captain Hodge made a sensational throw to run out Warner (77 runs, 56 balls, 9 boundaries, one six). That left DD needing 9 runs in 1 over of Cooper with 6 wickets in hand. They could manage only 3 runs and Cooper got Botha and Russell both. Irfan Pathan and Naman Ojha could not hit the required 6 or two boundaries.
DD needs a serious overhaul otherwise this may become their worst IPL season. RR on the other hand must have gained a lot of confidence. Addition of Shane Watson may increase their chances of winning better.
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