Delhi Daredevils have beaten the Gujarat Lions by eight wickets in Rajkot to make it five wins from seven games in IPL 2016 to keep their hopes of progressing past the groups stages alive.
The Lions were put into bat and struggled along to 35-3 after their powerplay before Dinesh Karthik made 53 and late hitting by Ravindra Jadeja, who made 35 not out saw their side get to 149. The score was never going to be enough especially when Rishabh Pant made a brilliant 69 from 40 balls to see the Daredevils win the game with 16 balls remaining in the match.
The toss was won by Daredevils captain Zaheer Khan, who chose to bowl against a strong Lions line-up which welcomed Aaron Finch back into the side after injury.
Gujarat reduced to 35-3 from their powerplay
The Lions began their batting innings poorly, limping along to 35-3 after the power play. Brendon McCullum was the first man to go to the bowling of Zaheer for one of four balls. Shahbaz Nadeem then took the other two wickets of Dwayne Smith for 15(14) and Finch for five off five balls to leave a huge rebuilding job needing to be done from the rest of Lions batsmen.
Suresh Raina and Karthik started the rebuild well putting on 51 for the fourth wicket before Raina fell for 24(20). The Lions captain was out stumped off the bowling of Amit Mishra to leave the score on 75-4.
Karthik's half-century got his team up to 149
Karthik continued on his merry way as he was joined at the crease by Ravindra Jadeja as the pair put on 52 for the fifth wicket before Karthik was out for 53(43). Karthik had just gotten to his half-century the ball before Mohammed Shami bowled him but the Indian batsmen had done a good job for his side.
The Lions lost two further wickets including James Faulkner for seven from 6 balls but late hitting from Jadeja, who remained 36 not out from 26 balls, got his side up to 149-7 from their 20 overs.
Pant and de Kock put on 115 for the first wicket for the Daredevils
In reply, the Daredevils got off to a brilliant start making 61 in their first six overs without losing a wicket. Quinton de Kock and Pant came out with real intent to get their team off to the perfect start.
The pair's partnership was finally ended on 115 in the 14th over when Jadeja got the wicket of Pant for 69(40). The opener showed a real glimpse of what he is capable of with a magnificent innings.
De Kock fell soon after for 46(45) of the bowling of left-arm spinner Shivil Kaushik to leave the score on 121-2 with 29 runs needed.
Dehli won the game by eight wickets with 16 balls remaining
The two quick wickets brought Jean-Paul Duminy and Sanju Samson together and the pair saw their side home with 16 balls remaining. Duminy finished 13 not out while Samson finished 19 not out as Delhi made it five wins from seven.