With Delhi Daredevils trying to avert a dubious record-equalling 11th straight defeat, defending 185 to open its tally in the eighth season of the Indian Premier League raised visions of a rare victory.
But, the way Rajasthan Royals squeezed out the winning runs off the final delivery for a thrilling three-wicket victory, reinforced the belief that Delhi had truly forgotten the way to win from a winning position. After all, Rajasthan was staring down the barrel at 78 for four in the 11th over.
For the record, Delhi became the second team in the IPL to suffer 11 straight losses. Pune Warriors suffered a similar fate in 2012.
When Imran Tahir scalped Stuart Binny — his first of four victims — Delhi smelt victory with Rajasthan still needing 107 from 56 deliveries with six wickets in hand.
With Ajinkya Rahane around and James Faulkner still to bat, Rajasthan was not out of hope. When Angelo Mathews conceded 19 runs in the 13th over and Yuvraj Singh 11 off the next, the equation stood at 70 off 36 deliveries.
Man-the-Match Deepak Hooda, given a reprieve by Yuvraj who missed a run-out opportunity, smashed two successive sixes off Jaydev Unadkat in the 15th over that produced 15 runs.
Just when it was beginning to look like an even contest, Tahir removed Rahane at the start of the 16th over. In walked Faulkner, but it was Hooda who continued the good work by smashing his fourth six. Soon, 44 runs were needed from 24 deliveries.
When Amit Mishra’s final over produced just five runs to leave Rajasthan needing 36 runs off 18 deliveries, the scales tilted in Delhi’s favour.
But, Hooda was not done yet. He hit Coulter-Nile for two boundaries to third man and reached his half-century off just 22 deliveries, and Faulkner brightened Rajasthan’s chances by hitting a boundary as the 18th over produced 17 runs.
With 19 needed off the last two overs, Tahir sent back Hooda and Faulkner to keep Delhi’s hopes alive. Rajasthan needed 12 off the final over. Off Mathews’s fourth delivery, Morris found a much-needed boundary down fine leg, and with three needed off the last delivery, Tim Southee sent the ball past the cover fence to leave Delhi heartbroken.
Delhi batsmen come good
Earlier, opting to chase, Rajasthan couldn’t contain Delhi, which took the field with a new batting order after making three changes from the team that lost to Chennai Super Kings the other night.
Every Delhi batsman on view scored a minimum of 27 runs and hit at least a six. If Mayank Agarwal provided a whirlwind start, fellow-opener Shreyas Iyer took charge from the fifth over. With skipper J-P Duminy providing a run-a-ball support from one end, Yuvraj Singh and Angelo Mathews took turns to enthrall the supporters.
A well-paced innings ended with a flourish. Duminy finally changed gears to hit two sixes off Faulkner’s over that produced 17 runs. But, as things turned out, the effort didn’t prove enough.
