IPL 2018: Match 26: DD vs KKR - Rating of the Match

Delhi Daredevils (DD) have finally won their second match of the season by thumping the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by a whopping 55 runs at home. It was a captain’s knock from Shreyas Iyer as the change in personnel in that front worked wonders for Delhi with immediate effect. His brilliance coupled with the bowlers’ clever variations helped the hosts seal the game. However, it all started with Prithvi Shaw who gave the belief that a huge score could be posted while batting first.

Classy Prithvi Shaw (62 off 44)

Prithvi Shaw has all the class and temperament in him to become the next big thing in World cricket. He proved it again at Ferozshah Kotla on Friday. Opening the innings with Colin Munro in this game, he took some time to get his eye in against the spinners of KKR who took the new ball in hand. Slowly but steadily he started unfurling the shots from his repertoire.

While he was severe on anything short from the bowlers, Shaw showed his class with his front foot drives when the ball was pitched up. Though the maximum he smashed off Mitchell Johnson was the best of the day. The bowler pitched it fractionally short only for Shaw to swivel a bit before using his strong bottom hand as he ended the follow through of the best just like how MS Dhoni does after playing the helicopter shot. The spectators and the commentators on air were left in awe of the youngster after that shot.

He smacked an impressive half-century only in his second IPL game and went on to score 62 runs off just 44 deliveries with 7 fours and a couple of sixes.

Iyer shines on captaincy debut (93 off 40)

Shreyas Iyer would’ve been under immense pressure coming into this game as he was on his captaincy debut after Gautam Gambhir had stepped down from the position. But the way he grafted his innings sublimely was superb. He made sure that the occasion didn’t get over him and in the process played one of the best innings of this season.

Iyer came out to bat for DD after their opening stand had given them a decent start finally. Iyer batted cleverly in the middle overs and kept on hitting the boundaries at will. He played the uppercut, slog sweep, made great use of the crease during his stay in the middle. In the end, he literally tore apart Shivam Mavi in the last over by smashing him for 29 runs in the over. It was just a pleasure to watch him in that flow as at one stage he almost took over his former skipper Gambhir in the dug-out.

Iyer made room expecting a shortish length from the bowler and bludgeoned it over wide long-off which was thudded into the dug-out. It was one heck of a knock from the skipper as he led from the front for DD. He remained unbeaten on 93 off 40 balls with only 3 fours and 10 massive sixes.

Mishra comes to the party (2/23 and a maiden)

Amit Mishra cam into the attack at right time with the opposition down and out with 4 down within the powerplay overs. But it was important for the home side to keep a lid on the run-scoring as there was still Andre Russell to come. The experience of the leggie came to the fore as he bowled tidy lengths and flighted the ball without fear. He got the wicket of the Dinesh Karthik with a similar delivery as he went to slice a flighted but wide delivery only to loop the ball in the air.

However, the stern test for Mishra was to bowl to Russell who was in flow with five overs still to go in the game. he bowled beautifully while varying the pace and most importantly conceded only a leg bye which eventually a maiden for a bowler in the 16th over. The over finished the grim hopes for the visitors as a couple of wickets also fell in the process. Mishra ended his spell with the figures of 2/23 and it was a great effort given the way big hits were so easily coming in the game.

DD have finally won the game which brought them to the seventh position in the points table and KKR’s net run rate has taken a hit badly now.

Here’s CricTracker’s rating of the match:

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