JP Duminy’s Delhi Daredevils were on the losing end of yet another thriller, as Tim Southee hit a boundary off the last ball to hand Rajasthan Royals victory by three wickets in Delhi on Sunday.
The Royals needed 12 runs off the last over in their chase of 185, and Titans all-rounder Chris Morris and Kiwi star Southee left it late, but they ensured back-to-back victories for their side.
Royals captain Steve Smith sent the Daredevils into bat, but Duminy would have been happy with his side’s performance with the bat, and his contribution in particular, as he struck three sixes on his way to 44 not out. Earlier knocks from Shreyas Iyer and Mayank Agarwal, and late cameos from Yuvraj Singh and Angelo Mathews, ensured they posted a competitive 184-3.
In response Ajinkya Rahane put in a solid shift with 47, but batsmen fell around him as Steve Smith and Sanju Samson departed cheaply. Imran Tahir was outstanding with the ball. Not only did he take four wickets, but his scalps were crucial ones as he saw off Rahane, Stuart Binny and the potentially dangerous James Faulkner. Deepak Hoonda struck 54 off just 25 balls, but Tahir accounted for him too as Daredevils appeared to be in control.
That was until Morris and Southee picked off the winning runs despite requiring 19 from the final two overs, to cruelly deny skipper Duminy the win.
Kings XI seal comfortable victory
Later in the day, Kings XI Punjab won their first match of the tournament with an easy 18-run victory over Mumbai Indians.
After losing the toss in Mumbai, George Bailey’s Kings XI were sent into bat, and the experience and power of Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay gave them just the start they would have hoped for, as the pair amassed 60 in just under seven overs, before Sehwag was the first to fall for 36.
The early loss of Glenn Maxwell then saw David Miller stride out to the crease, and the man from Maritzburg kept the scoreboard ticking before he fell to the bowling of Lasith Malinga for 24. The under-fire Bailey then unleashed to propel his side into a competitive position. His 32-ball 61 guided the side from Punjab to 177-5.
Much was expected from Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma and his opening partner Aaron Finch at the top of the order in response, but Sharma couldn’t repeat his 98 not out performance from his side’s opener against KKR, walking back for a duck.
Mitchell Johnson was only brought into the attack in the sixth over, but it proved to great effect as he clean bowled Aaron Finch, and when Corey Anderson departed, Mumbai were left reeling at 25-4. They continued to struggle as Johnson conceded just six runs off his first three overs.
Harbhajan Singh entertained the crowd with a late onslaught, but there was too much left to do. He left a couple of the bowlers frustrated as Rishi Dhawan and Anureet Singh’s figures were damaged from Harbhajan’s 24-ball 64 – the fastest ever 50 by a Mumbai Indians player – but Anureet would have the last laugh, seeing him off with the penultimate ball of the innings, as Mumbai fell 18 runs short of the mark.
