Inspired Iyer drives Delhi Daredevils to victory

An inspired knock of 96 from Shreyas Iyer helped get the Delhi Daredevils past the Gujarat Lions in a thrilling IPL chase.
The Lions had posted an imposing total of 195 for 5 thanks largely to a belligerent knock of 69 of 39 balls from Aaron Finch but DD got home with 2 balls and 2 wickets to spare.
Having lost Dwayne Smith (8) and Suresh Raina (6) in the powerplay Ishan Kishan (34) and Dinesh Karthik (40) layed a good platform from which Finch would launch.
Finch smashed four sixes and six fours in his innings that stretched from the 7th over until the 19th when Mohammed Shami castled the Aussie.
Great knock from Finch but it wasn’t enough to secure a win for GL https://t.co/7ctzcQg8cg #VIVOIPL via @ipl
— Cricket365 (@Cricket365) May 10, 2017
Ravindra Jadeja (13*) and Aaron Finch (14*) would see out the innings but couldn’t get the Gujarat Lions over 200.
DD’s chase got off to a shaky start when they lost Sanju Samson (10) and Risabh Pant (4) in the second over of the innings.
Karun Nair (30) and Iyer would put on 57 for the third wicket though which kept the Daredevils in the contest.
Jadeja effected two run outs first seeing the back of Marlon Samuels (1) with a direct hit before repeating the feat to send Corey Anderson (6) back to the dugout.
Iyer held his nerve even when he lost Brathwaite (11) and things began to look like they were heading the way of the Gujarat Lions.
Pat Cummins cameo of 24 off 13 balls formed part of a 61 run partnership with Iyer that swung the game in the Delhi franchises favour.
Iyer fell just four short of what would have been a well deserved ton but the job was just about done and Amit Mishra would smash two fours in two balls to get them over.
Man of the match Iyer said after the contest: “I’d have been more happy with finishing the game. I wasn’t thinking much about my hundred, I decided at the start I would bat till the end. Hundred doesn’t matter, winning the game does. I was just trying to time the ball, was getting the ball in my areas. two matches left, let’s hope I get two more Man of the Matches.”
Latest
-
News
Mohammad Hafeez bats away PCB contract offer
Mohammad Hafeez has shunned a Category C contract from the Pakistan Cricket Board.
-
News
India v England, day one: Zak Crawley the only bright light for poor England
India held the upper hand in the pivotal third Test in Ahmedabad after bowling the tourists out for 112 and reaching the close on 99 for three.
-
News
England frustrated with umpires after India dominate day one of third Test
England skipper Joe Root was heard telling umpires ‘all we want is consistency’.
-
News
England slump to 112 all out as India take control of third Test
Zak Crawley’s half-century was England’s only innings of note.
-
News
Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin have England in a spin in third Test
Patel claimed six for 38 to put India in complete control.
-
News
Zak Crawley leads England resistance but India dominate first session
The host’s spinners enjoyed more helpful conditions.
-
News
England make four changes and opt to bat first in day-night Test against India
Rory Burns and Dan Lawrence made way for Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow.
-
News
On This Day in 2010: Sachin Tendulkar at the double with new ODI milestone
Then aged 36, he hit 25 fours and three sixes off 147 balls as India thrashed South Africa.
-
News
Joe Root relishes bowling selection dilemma ahead of day-night Test with India
The England captain has to decide which of his seamers will make the cut in Ahmedabad.
-
News
Brave decision looks familiar for David Warner in The Hundred
The Australia opener rejoins Southern Brave for the inaugural competition.