Match-4 DD vs RR, Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

MATCH-4

DD vs RR

Venue- Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi
Match Officials- S.Das, C.Shamsuddin, A>Choudhary(Umpires),                             A.Pycroft(Refree)    

Toss-  RR won the toss and chose to bat first!

Result- RR won by 5 runs!

Man Of The Match- RAHUL DRAVID

Match Report-

                  After losing to KKR in the opening match of season, DD were under bit of pressure when they took on RR in Delhi. Dravid captain of RR won the toss and chose to bat first. Shane Watson missed the game due to injury. Debutant K.Perera (RR) gave blazing start to the team but failed to pick up Umesh Yadav's slower one and lost his wicket. After that Rahane and Gambhir took some time to settle down, but after 7 overs of the innings they started to open up. Stuart Binny came in all guns blazing and started hitting all around the ground and scored quickfire 40 with strike rate of 200. Dravid quietly got to 50, he scored his runs with healthy strike rate of 127. Last couple of overs were nightmare for RR. They lost 4 wickets and managed to score only 12 runs. Target of 166 for Delhi Daredevils wasn't difficult on the pitch that was good for batting and with a depth in their batting. 

                         Unmukt Chand was looking restless and was trying to attack almost every ball. He soon disappeared as Shreesanth sneaked one in through his defense. After that they had 2 good partnerships both featuring Warner, one with Jayawardene and another with Juneja. Wickets kept tumbling after that.. Warner was lone Daredevil fighting his way through for the team. Big turning point came when Warner got run out on the throw of Brad Hodge, fellow Australian. Needing 9 runs of last over with 6 wickets in hand and Russel and Botha on strike, they managed to score just 3 runs off Kevon Kooper and lost both those batsmen. They felt short by just 5 runs. 

My Views-  

                          Along with Warner's dismissal, Rahane's catch was also important moment of this match. He took spectacular catch, diving in the air to his right, getting the prime wicket of in form Mahela Jayawardene. Though they were on winning side, RR needs to look and improve their batting in middle order. Also they struggled to find the 5th bowler.
              On other hand DD again missed star players like Viru, KP, Morkel, Ryder. They have lost both the games they played. They need to turn around the table quickly now. 

Highlights Of Match in Photos---

Man Of The Match- R.Dravid

Warner scored 77 runs but innings in vain

Cooper delivered excellent last over

Shreesanth posing after taking wicket of Chand

Umesh Yadav picked up 4 crucial wickets