IPL-9 is slowly turning on more audience to watch by repetitive Last over wins, past Sunday there was a last over convincing victory for KKR and on Wednesday another stunning Final Over Win registered by Gujarat Lions who Bounced back to number 1 positions in the Table..!
#IPL2016 #DDvGL Morris remained unbeaten on 82 off 32 balls with 8 sixes, four boundaries. https://t.co/yZAZKFGYKY pic.twitter.com/FQuB4NvzDw
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) April 27, 2016
Chris Morris’s 32-ball 82 went in vain as Gujarat Lions (GL) edged out Delhi Daredevils (DD) by 1 run in Match 23 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016. Earlier, DD won the toss and elected to bowl. “We’re just following the trend and would look to chase down the target,” said DD captain captain Zaheer Khan during the toss. Zaheer started the proceedings by leaking 18 runs in the first over. GL openers McCullum and Smith grabbed the DD bowlers by their collar and took them to the cleaners. The duo scored fastest 50-run stand of IPL 9 off just 23 balls. They couple meaty blows with cheeky ones and put DD on the back foot. They stitched up 112-run partnership for the first wicket and laid foundation for the middle-order batsman.
.@TheGujaratLions win by 1 run #DDvGL #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/SjrggC7a2o
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 27, 2016
However, DD wrestled back in style as they sent McCullum, Smith and Suresh Raina in quick succession. While McCullum was castled with a peach of slower ball, Raina was hunted down with a well-directed bouncer by Chris Morris. What looked like a one-sided game suddenly turned in DD’s favour. To make matters worse for GL, wily leg-spinner Imran Tahir dismissed Karthik and debutant Ishan Kishan in consecutive balls. Nonetheless, all-rounder James Faulkner gave finishes touches, as GL posted 172 runs on the scoreboard.
#IPL9 #DDvGL In pics: Morris’ 82 off 32 balls goes in vain as GL win by 1 run. https://t.co/zQFURznxdM pic.twitter.com/GmCP2j0HHp
— The Quint (@TheQuint) April 27, 2016
GL bowlers were right on the money and swung the ball both ways. Given this, Quinton de Kock played with caution and put a price on his wicket. However, Sanju Samson showed signs of aggression and holed out to Faulkner at mid on. Both Praveen Kumar and Samson bowled tight spell and kept de Kock’s onslaught at bay. Eventually, De Kock fell prey to Kulkarni’s change of pace and experienced a rare failure. To add to DD’s misfortune, Kulkarni sent Deepak Hooda to the dug out. However, débutante Rishabh Pant looked in ominous touch and spanked 20 off just 17 balls before he middled a length ball straight to the hands of Kumar at deep square leg.
Along with the colossal sixes, records kept tumbling. His 8-six cameo is the second most by a DD batsmen in IPL (first being Kevin Pietersen with 9 sixes). Moreover, this was the highest score by a No. 4 batsman.
