Shreyas Iyer
Rishabh Pantof DD and Shreyas Iyer captain of DD during match thirty two of the Vivo Indian Premier League 2018 (IPL 2018) between the Delhi Daredevils and the Rajasthan Royals held at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi on the 2nd May 2018. Photo by: Rahul Gulati /SPORTZPICS for BCCI

On May 2 (Wednesday) it was a much-needed victory for the Delhi Daredevils (DD) led by Shreyas Iyer, as they registered the third victory in Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL) 11 by four runs against Rajasthan Royals (RR) as per Duckworth-Lewis (DLS) method.

It was a nail-biting thriller which went till the wire. However, in the end, it was Trent Boult, who held his nerves and restricted Rajasthan in the final over.

Krishnappa Gowtham kept them in the game with some lusty blows but in the end, Rajasthan fell short by just a stroke.

It was Royals’ skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who won the toss and opted to field. The match was reduced to an 18 overs encounter after rain halted the match for more than an hour.

Colin Munro was dismissed in the very first over of Dhawal Kulkarni, as former inside-edged an inswinging delivery straight to Jos Buttler behind the stumps.

Prithvi Shaw looked in ominous touch from outset. He was severe on Kulkarni and Gowtham and helped Delhi get off to a brisk start. He shared a 73-run partnership with his skipper Iyer.

Shaw was the dominator in chief and was dismissed on 47 of just 25 deliveries which were studded with four fours and four sixes each. It was Shreyas Gopal, who brought an end to Shaw’s innings.

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On the other end, skipper Shreyas Iyer struck some terrific blows and reached yet another half-century. He smashed three fours and as many sixes during his knock 50 of 35 deliveries.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was at his stupendous best and took on the Rajasthan bowlers with disdain.

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IPL 2018: It is Important For Us to Win All the Matches - Shreyas Iyer
Prithvi Shaw of DD plays a shot during match thirty-two of the Vivo Indian Premier League 2018 (IPL 2018) between the Delhi Daredevils and the Rajasthan Royals held at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi on the 2nd May 2018. Photo by: Rahul Gulati /SPORTZPICS for BCCI

The southpaw smashed boundaries at will and was eventually dismissed on 69 of just 29 deliveries which included seven fours and five sixes.

Delhi eventually reached 196 for six in 17.1 overs when rain again brought a halt to the match.

When Rajasthan came out to bat they needed 151 to chase down in 12 overs. For the first time, Jos Buttler came out to open the innings with D’Arcy Short.

It was a sensational start by Buttler which got them off to a breathtaking start. It was just like a walk in the park for Buttler as kept smashing sixes at will.

Butler’s innings of 67 came in just 26 deliveries which included four fours and seven sixes. He just literally toyed with the Rajasthan bowlers and helped Delhi come in contention.

The right-handed batsman shared an 82-run partnership with Short before he was dismissed by leg-spinner Amit Mishra. Two more wickets fell in quick succession.

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However, Short brought Rajasthan back into the game with three consecutive sixes of Glenn Maxwell in the 10th over. While attempting the fourth six, he was dismissed in the fourth delivery of the same over.

Gowtham struck some lusty blows in the end. Trent Boult bowled a good over with 15 runs required. Despite a blunder from skipper Shreyas Iyer Delhi at the boundary ropes, hosts went on to win the game.

Here is what winning skipper Shreyas Iyer said at the post-match presentation

“It was a very important victory for us. This wicket is very good and even 200 is very less. Bowlers kept their nerve and we came back strong. I dropped the catch but we won the match, we should look forward.  Start that Shaw is giving is amazing and Pant’s role in the middle is pivotal. It is important for us to win all the matches,” Iyer told Murali Karthik.

IPL 2018: It is Important For Us to Win All the Matches - Shreyas Iyer

“It is important for us to win all the matches. Ponting is a positive guy and no one is thinking negative in the dressing room. It is difficult to bowl with the ground being small, it is really tough to control when the batsmen start hitting,” Iyer concludes.

Also Read: IPL 2018: 32nd Match, Delhi Daredevils vs Rajasthan Royals – Five Game-Changing Moments

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