Sanju Samson hit the first century of IPL 10, as the Delhi Daredevils thrashed the Rising Pune Supergiant by 97 runs.
The 22-year-old, who has always been tipped for great things since he starred in the U19 World Cup three years ago, but has failed to deliver since, produced his finest effort to date.
With a previous score of 86, Samson, coming in at No 3, hit eight fours and five sixes to reach 102 off only 63 deliveries to inspire his side to their first victory of the campaign.
It was yet another match which saw the South Africans deliver the goods. Chris Morris proved that he is one of the biggest hitters in the game at the moment as he blasted 38 off a scarcely believable nine balls, to take his side past the 200-mark. Morris, who struck 82 off 32 in the tournament last year, came in with only 10 balls left with his side on 166-4. That became 205-4 an over and a half later.
RPS were well in it earlier in the innings as English opener Sam Billings fell for 24, and it was Imran Tahir to take the wicket. It was his sixth of the tournament, to propel himself to the top of the wicket-taking charts. The No 1 ODI and T20 bowler in the world, who was snubbed at the IPL auction, took the Purple Cap.
Chasing 206 for victory, thanks to the blitz from Samson and Morris, the hosts were never in it, losing their first five wickets very quickly.
Delhi Daredevils skipper, 38-year-old Zaheer Khan, rolled back the years to remove both openers, while Faf du Plessis, in for the ill Steve Smith, made his first appearance of the campaign, but could only muster eight off seven.
Morris, who took two catches on the night, also bagged a wicket to see off Rahul Tripathi for 10, and when Ben Stokes (2) fell to the pace of Pat Cummins, RPS were stranded on 54-5.
The spinners cleaned up the rest as Amit Mishra took 3-11, for the Daredevils to get on the board in clinical fashion, this after Pune defeated them both times last season.
Photo: BCCI/Cricinfo
