Daredevils drub Punjab

Delhi Daredevils flexed their muscles at home ground to romp to 51 runs victory over Kings XI Punjab in India Premier League on Saturday.

 Choosing to bat, Daredevils were lifted by the innings of Sam Billings (55) and later Corey Anderson (39 not out) to put up a challenging 188/6 in 20 overs. In reply, Kings caved in to the might of Daredevils attack, with Chris Morris (3-23) and Pat Cummins (2-23) being the pick of the bowlers.

 The home side took the wheels of the Kings’ chase by skittling their top order during the powerplay overs. Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeeem, introduced in the second over, was right on money when he hit the pads of dangerous Manan Vohra, the ball promising to knock his leg stump. Two overs later, Nadeem stuck again. This time Wriddhiman Saha was on his way back when he hit straight to Zaheer Khan at extra cover. An in form Hashim Amla, who kept up the Kings spirit with his crisp drives, then flicked Pat Cummins straight to deep square leg in the fifth over, to compound Kings’ troubles.

 Eoin Morgan, playing his first game of the season, stitched 33 runs for the fourth wicket with David Miller in a desperate rescue act. But Cummins, in the 10th over, intervened. Morgan cut the ball, didn’t get it right, and Karun Nair had an easy catch at backward point. Veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra then got the prized wicket of Kings’ captain Glenn Maxwell. The Australian, in the second ball he faced, got down for a slog hit, but could manage only a top edge that ended at deep mid-wicket.

When Anderson trapped Miller leg before in the 14th over, the Kings’ fate was more or less sealed. Axar Patel (44) and Mohit Sharma, with lusty hits, created excitement for the capacity crowd, but at the end it proved to be too little, too late.

 Billings provided a crackerjack start to Daredevils. He had that reckless control and freewheeling dominance of Kings’ bowling during the powerplay. With Sanju Samson, promoted up the order, the two raised quick 53 runs in seven overs, before leg-spinner KC Cariappa, in his first over, separated them. Samson holed out to long off and in the immediate over Karun Nair was caught behind to a short ball from Varun Aaron. Billings eased out the nerves with fluent strokemaking, but lost companions.

 Shreyas Iyer, back in the side replacing Aditya Tare, showed he was ready for action after a bout of chickenpox, with three well-timed hits to the fence. He perished when his aerial hit off Mohit Sharma found a Eoin Morgan at long-off. 

 Billings, after raising a fine half century in the 12th over, departed next and Daredevils suddenly found themselves in a spot of bother. The slowish nature of the track made timing difficult for the new batsmen. Rishabh Pant was dismissed after nine balls, but Anderson hung on. After making a measured start, Anderson cut loose, and took charge after Daredevils lost Chris Morris in the 18th over. In the company of an equally attacking Cummins, Anderson took the Kings’ attack to cleaners, the last two overs bleeding 35 runs, and put Daredevils in a position of strength.