IPL 2 Game 18: Royals Pull One Finally, Daredevils Cough

Sreelata YellamrazuApr 29 2009

The defending champions from last year’s IPL, Rajasthan Royals, have had an ignominious start to the IPL 2 season. However, there were signs they were trying to set things right as Yousuf Pathan and Graeme Smith put up a concentrated effort as Delhi Daredevils suffered their first hiccup of the tournament.

delhi v raj

The Daredevils were on the back foot straightaway as yet again they lost crucial wickets early. With captain Virender Sehwag and explosive batsman from last season, Gautam Gambhir, both departing early to Dmitri Mascarenhas, once again it was upon AB de Villiers to set the innings back on track.

De Villiers’ half century combined with useful contributions from Daniel Vettori and Mithun Manhas allowed Daredevils to get to 143, not a big total but one that was still defendable at Supersport Park, Centurion.

The Rajasthan Royals’ batting once again looked vulnerable as they lost three wickets for thirty-four and that of Ravindra Jadeja’s with the score on sixty-three after eleven overs. While the target’s run rate started soaring and Amit Mishra pulled the Royals back on their march with three key wickets, the Royals depended heavily on the partnership at the crease. Graeme Smith attempted to change the contribution story from his end while Pathan was not done with a single accolade.

The Daredevilss only option was taking wickets, but it was the daredevilry from the other team that paid dividends. Couple of missed run out opportunities, catches that slipped through between two fielding positions, Yousuf lived a charmed life much like he did in the Super Over match against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Graeme Smith painted a contrasting picture, grinding and digging into the crease at one end to thwart the further loss of wickets. His forty-four off forty-six balls was a much more sedate effort for a man keen to make amends. But it was Yousuf and his belligerence that in the end, brought on the Rajasthan Royals victory faster than expected. His sixty-two was then the decisive innings of the match, edging out AB’s consolidating effort earlier in the day.

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