Sanju Samson’s 102 was a tough act to match, especially poise at the crease and timing in his strokes. IPL 2017’s first three-figure mark, the batsman’s first ton in the competition, enabled Delhi Daredevils set a challenging total of 205. And Rising Pune Supergiant promptly slumped to 54 for five in eight overs, eventually losing by 97 runs after getting bowled out for 108 in 16.1 overs.
One of Rahul Dravid’s chosen ones, Samson would have made his coach proud, for his calmness and style. The DD number three muscled in with eight fours and five stunning sixes and dealt with the bowling on his own terms. Chris Morris rattled up a quick-fire 38 off nine balls faced at number six, with four fours and three sixes).
RPS leg-spinners Imran Tahir (4-0-24-1) and Adam Zampa (4-0-45-1) curbed the DD stroke maker to some extent, indicating the assistance for slow bowlers from the MCA stadium track. Later on in the night, Zaheer Khan (3-0-20-3) masterminded the defence in style, building on pressure to wipe out RPS hopes and reduce an action-packed game into a mismatch.
Steve Smith sat out due to a stomach upset. Manoj Tiwari also was not available. Stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane lasted nine balls at the crease, his teammates did not show the skill or spunk to match the bowlers spirited efforts earlier in the game. The home fans banked on M S Dhoni to pull off a miracle with the blade, he picked out the fielder at mid-wicket.
DD started with left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem first up. Zaheer’s variations tricked rival captain Rahane. Leg-spinner Amit Mishra provoked Dhoni to shuffle at the crease and flick powerfully off his toes. Karun Nair tracked the dipping ball and completed a neat catch in the deep. Faf du Plessis tried an audacious scoop over third man against Nadeem, was snapped up behind.
DD batsmen also faced trouble against fascinating bowling by Tahir, teamed up with Zampa for the second time on home turf. The former struck with his seventh ball, his control over line and power in his wrists to gain turn was impressive. Samson read him correctly and lashed one six off the South African.
Samson and partner Rishabh played out the spinners. RPS weere in control at the halfway mark, 88-2 in 10 overs and the two stroke-makers biding their time. The former started off at a brisk pace, crossed half-century in 41 balls before stepping on the gas in the slog overs for the first ton in IPL. The home team had match-winners in the batting line-up, but ended up making a hash of the chance to suffer second defeat in three games.
Sanju Samson’s brilliantly paced century (102 off 63 balls) — the first of this year’s edition — swelled Delhi Daredevils’ score to 205 in its 20 overs and effectively ended host Rising Pune Supergiant’s challenge at the break itself in their Vivo IPL-10 clash at the MCA stadium here on Tuesday night.
Faced with an uphill task of scoring at above 10-runs an over, RSP’s chase imploded as it lost half its batting line-up by the eighth over with just 54 on the board. It eventually was all out for 108 at the start of the 17th over to hand the visitors a 97-run victory.
Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane, present for the toss in place of captain Steve Smith (out due to a stomach upset), showed faith in his bowlers’ ability after calling right for RPS.
But after leg-spinner Imran Tahir followed up medium-pacer Deepak Chahar’s first ball wicket of Aditya Tare — he made him chase an outswinger — by dismissing Sam Billings off the seventh ball he bowled, it was Samson’s show all the way.
Samson would have made coach Rahul Dravid proud, for his calmness, shot selection, style and timing. He muscled in with eight fours and five stunning sixes and dealt with the bowling on his own terms.
Chris Morris rattled up a quick-fire 38 off nine balls at number six, with four fours and three sixes.
Samson adjusted to the pace off the track for flowing drives through the offside as the visitors eased to 61 runs in the PowerPlay.
The game entered a riveting phase as Tahir and fellow leggie Adam Zampa attacked from either end. Zampa did his part on a track where the leg-spinners deserved respect while the South African’s control over line and ability to extract turn was impressive. Tahir gave away only 24 in his quota, including just the one six, and also picked up a wicket.
Samson and partner Rishabh played out the spinners as RPS regained control at 88 for two in 10 overs; the two stroke-makers biding their time in the face of effective spin bowling. The former started off at a brisk pace, crossed the half-century in 41 balls before stepping on the gas in the slog overs.
Smith’s non-availibilty triggered changes in the home side. Faf du Plessis came in, as did local talent Rahul Tripathi who replaced Manoj Tiwary. Corey Anderson was the only new face for the Daredevils, taking the place of all-rounder Carlos Braithwaite, who was benched after one game.
Scoreboard
Delhi Daredevils : Aditya Tare c Dhoni b Chahar 0 (5b), Sam Billings b Tahir 24 (17b, 4x4), Sanju Samson b Zampa 102 (63b, 8x4, 5x6), Rishabh Pant run out 31 (22b, 1x4, 2x6), Corey Anderson (not out) 2 (4b), Chris Morris (not out) 38 (9b, 4x4, 3x6); Extras (lb-3, w-5): 8; Total (for four wkts. in 20 overs): 204.
Fall of wickets : 1-2 (Tare, 1.1 overs), 2-71 (Billings, 8.1), 3-124 (Pant, 15.2), 4-166 (Samson, 18.2).
Rising Pune Supergiant bowling : Ashoke Dinda 3-0-36-0, Deepak Chahar 3-0-35-1, Ben Stokes 4-0-41-0, Imran Tahir 4-0-24-1, Adam Zampa 4-0-45-1, Rajat Bhatia 2-0-21-0.
Rising Pune Supergiant: Ajinkya Rahane c Samson b Zaheer 10 (9b), Mayank Agarwal c Morris b Zaheer 20 (18b, 2x4), Faf du Plessis c Pant b Nadeem 8 (7b, 1x4), Rahul Tripathi c Nadeem b Morris 10 (5b, 2x4), Ben Stokes c Pant b Cummins 2 (5b), M.S. Dhoni c Karun b Mishra 11 (14b, 1x6), Rajat Bhatia c Morris b Mishra 16 (17b, 1x6), Deepak Chahar c Pant b Zaheer 14 (6b, 2x6), Adam Zampa c Samson b Mishra 5 (7b, 1x4), Ashoke Dinda c Mishra b Cummins 7 (7b, 1x4), Imran Tahir (not out) 0 (2b); Extras (lb-1, w-4): 5; Total (in 16.1 overs): 108.
Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Rahane, 2.6 overs), 2-34 (Mayank, 4.5), 3-49 (Tripathi, 5.5), 4-52 (du Plessis, 6.4), 5-54 (Stokes, 7.5), 6-79 (Dhoni, 11.6), 7-94 (Bhatia, 13.1), 8-100 (Chahar, 14.1), 9-107 (Zampa, 15.3).
Delhi Daredevils bowling: Shahbaz Nadeem 4-0-23-1, Pat Cummins 3.1-0-24-2, Zaheer Khan 3-0-20-3, Chris Morris 2-0-19-1, Corey Anderson 1-0-10-0, Amit Mishra 3-0-11-3.
Toss: Rising Pune Supergiant.
Man-of-the-match: Samson.
Delhi Daredevils won by 97 runs.
