Delhi Daredevils' bowling has been its bane this entire season. On Saturday, the host failed to defend a competitive total yet again, going down by five wickets to Royal Challengers Bangalore with an over to spare to hand the visitor a lifeline in the race to playoffs.
Chasing 182, Virat Kohli and A.B. de Villiers put paid to any hopes DD might have had, with a 118-run partnership for the third wicket in just 64 balls. RCB's batting has been patchy at best with Kohli scoring the bulk of its runs but it was only a matter of time they came good together. And they found the perfect stage to do it, replicating the Kane Williamson-Shikhar Dhawan pair two days back.
Kohli (70) smoked the bowlers all around and de Villiers (72 not out), struggling for form, matched him in both shot-making and scoring to stay till the end and not let the chase collapse. Deservedly, he stuck the winning runs, a massive six over long-off. Coming together after two early wickets, the duo ensured DD would not get to play spoilsport to their campaign in the tournament. Trent Boult, the only consistent DD bowler, did pick up two wickets but there was little support at the other end.
Earlier, DD gave youngsters Abhishek Sharma, Sandeep Lamichhane and Junior Dala their IPL debuts with the 17-year old Abhishek, an under-19 World Cupper, proving he had both the temperament and skills. His unbeaten 19-ball 46 included some of the cleanest hits.
If the first ball he faced from Mohd. Siraj was sent racing down the ground to long-off, Tim Southee saw the ball flying over his head into the stands with the straightest of bats. The Kiwi went for 22 in the 17th over.
Abhishek was also lucky after being dropped by Siraj at third man before he could launch into his stride but once he did, he proved why the current junior lot is rated so highly. Sandeep Lamichhane became not just the first Nepalese to play here, but also take a wicket.
Abhishek built on the foundation set by Rishabh Pant, who scored his fifth IPL half-century this season. However, it proved inadequate once again.
