Hits and Duds – Rising Pune Supergiants vs Delhi Daredevils

It was the 10 match of IPL 2017 between home side Rising Pune Supergiants and Delhi Daredevils. The homes side won the toss and chose to bowl, as has been the trend throughout the last 2 editions of the IPL, hoping to chase down any total that the comparatively weaker batting side would put on the board. But due to the heroics of Sanju Samson, Delhi posted a mammoth total of 205 and their rather strong bowling attack then restricted RPS to 108 runs winning the match by 97 runs. Essentially Sports brings you the hits and duds of the match.

DUDS

• Adam Zampa

The young leg spinner from Australia had a bad night leaking runs at a time when RPS needed him. All his variations were quite easily read by the batsman, especially Chris Morris who hit him for 14 runs from the last four balls of his spell. He either bowled it to slow or two quickly and on a length which was quite easy for the batsman and hence went for 45 runs from his 4 overs.

• Corey Anderson

The dashing New Zealand all rounder couldn’t leave an impact in this match for DD. Playing in place of Carlos Brathwaite, he was expected to smash the ball out of the park and chip in with some useful overs. But he could only manage 2 runs in the four balls he faced and went for 10 runs in the only over he bowled. His 10 run over forced Zaheer to take him out of the attack and use his other bowlers who he would have rather used at the depth.

• MS Dhoni

Former RPS captain and in form Dhoni didn’t look himself at all today. He came at a time with team already under pressure having lost three wickets, but many expected him to tee off and take the game till the end like he has done many times in his career. But he looked rusty from the beginning and couldn’t time the ball as he would have liked. Zaheer blocked his scoring shots and denied any easy singles. With the pressure increasing, he tried his favourite helicopter but found Karun Nair at deep wicket and gave his priced wicket to Amit Mishra.

HITS

• Sanju Samson

It is due to his heroics that Daredevils posted such a mammoth total on the board.  He started off his innings slowly but gained momentum after he reached his half century. He started milking he bowling all around the park, and reached his maiden T20 century hitting a six of Zampa. Samson had 8 fours and 5 sixes in his innings. He has a great gift of timing which was on full display in this innings.

• Chris Morris

Morris showed today the reason why he is considered a complete all rounder. His batting was the difference between a 180 and a 200 score. Morris came out all guns blazing and started smashing Zampa all around the park. After that it was Stokes’s turn to be hammered. Stokes conceded 23 runs in the final over, courtesy two fours and two sixes off Morris’s bat. He also picked up the wicket of Rahul Tripathi with a fast bouncer and showed his catching skills by taking two important ones in the field.

• Imran Tahir

The only shining thing for RPS to take away from todays match was Imran Tahir who as usual was fantastic. He now holds the purple cap after taking the wicket of Sam Billings getting him clean bowled. He bowled tight lines on a perfect pace which made him even more difficult to get away.

• Zaheer Khan

The veteran was among the wickets today and finally seems to have got his rhythm back. Having not played so many matches before the tournament, he looked a bit rusty in the previous match. But his variations and his speed were bang on this match and led his bowling attack from the front. He ended the match having figures 3-0-20-3 taking the wickets of Mayank Agarwal, Ajinkya Rahane and Deepak Chahar and was key in DD’s victory.