Delhi Daredevils (DD) cruised to a thumping win over the table-toppers Gujarat Lions (GL) in Match 31 of IPL 2016. With this win, the Daredevils jumped up to second spot in the points table.
The Lions have been one of the most consistent side in this edition of the IPL, but they succumbed to an eight-wicket defeat against the Daredevils, who have been impressive this season.
Shreyas Iyer was dropped for this match after his string of poor performances and Rishabh Pant was promoted to the top of the batting order. Pant cashed in on the opportunity and scored a brilliant half-century. The youngster was also adjudged the man of the match.
Here's the updated IPL 2016 points table.
Pant scored 69 runs from just 40 balls and Quinton De Kock added 46 runs to his name.
The opening pair of Pant and De Kock got the Daredevils off to a superb start as the visitors made proper use of the Powerplay overs. The Daredevils scored 61 runs in the first six overs and the momentum was clearly with the visitors.
Pant and De Kock added 115 runs together for the first wicket. Pant was scoring at a brisk pace (strike-rate of 172.50) and was finally dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja in the 14th over.
JP Duminy and Sanju Samson finished things off for the Daredevils with more than two overs to spare.
None of the Gujarat Lions bowlers could make an impact. The Daredevils batsmen had no problems whatsoever during that run chase.
The Lions have now lost two games in a row. Skipper Suresh Raina will want to forget this defeat and get back to winning ways as soon as possible. The Gujarat Lions could not get enough runs on the board and at the end it was an easy run chase for the visitors.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Daredevils have won two games in a row and are looking pretty impressive.
Earlier, Zaheer Khan had won the toss and asked Gujarat Lions to bat first. The wicket had a tinge of green to it and the bowlers got a little of bit assistance from the wicket in the first innings. The Delhi Daredevils bowlers made it difficult for the Gujarat Lions batsmen.
Brendon McCullum, Aaron Finch and Dwayne Smith departed early. The Daredevils maintained the pressure on the hosts and they could not score runs quickly.
Raina and Dinesh Karthik steadied the Gujarat Lions innings after the early debacle. But Raina was foxed by Amit Mishra and he too was dismissed for 24 runs from 20 balls.
Ravindra Jadeja and Karthik batted well in tandem and added 52 runs. That partnership helped Gujarat Lions to reach a total of 149 runs in their allotted 20 overs.
