Delhi Daredevils won a game convincingly by 9 wickets and with 47 balls to spare. And that, at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Let that sink in, ladies and gentlemen.
There are many places to start the analysis of Friday’s big win for Delhi. We could talk about the one-off lavender jersey launched in partnership with Yuvraj Singh’s YOUWECAN foundation to raise awareness about cancer survivors. We could talk about Nathan Coulter-Nile’s man-of-the-match effort of 4 wickets for a meager 20 runs in his 4 overs. We could talk about Shreyas Iyer’s stylish half-century that saw Delhi chase down the target of 118 in the 14th over. We could talk about Delhi’s first opening partnership of more than 50 in this year’s IPL as Mayank Agarwal played some cracking cuts and pulls, to put on 106 with Iyer.
But there is only one place to start. In one of the feel-best moments of this year’s IPL, Zaheer Khan played in a competitive match after 363 days and completed a typically canny spell, finishing with figures of 2 for 17 in his four overs.
Zaheer can and Zaheer did. Take a bow!
Near-perfect opening burst from Zaheer
It was the second ball of the match. Virender Sehwag was on strike. Zaheer came steaming in and landed one on a perfect good length on Sehwag’s off stump, moving away ever so slightly. Duminy had placed Angelo Mathews at short-point – a position that has often seen Viru perish playing the uppish square cut – no doubt from Zaheer’s input. The bat came down hard and Mathews made no mistake, gobbling up the chance. Sehwag, yet again, failed to make an impact.
And there it was, Zaheer’s trademark celebration that fans have grown used to over the years. Arms outstretched and raised towards the heavens, eyes closed and jaws clenched, before letting out a roar of satisfaction.
Then, in his second over, Zaheer accounted for Manan Vohra with a short-of-good-length ball when he saw the batsman step down the track early. The ball kicked up from the surface, Vohra got cramped for room and edged one to the ‘keeper. Another wicket, another roar. He was having a near-perfect comeback and he was enjoying every bit of it.
Even when he came on to bowl the 17th over, when David Miller and Axar Patel were trying to get a move on, Zaheer conceded just 5 runs. The variations that he is renowned for were out in full view as he cleverly mixed his off-cutters with yorkers outside off.
“Unbelievable, isn't it?” said Duminy, speaking about Zaheer's comeback. “His experience is great to have in the side. So great to have him back.”
“The feeling is mutual,” uttered thousands of other Indian fans.
Delhi’s bowling attack sets up the win
Nathan Coulter-Nile had been blowing hot and cold in the first half of this tournament. Against Punjab, he got his rewards for hitting the right length to snare Saha caught-behind. He changed his angle, coming round the wicket to get the left-handers Thisira Perera, Axar Patel and David Miller. The bowler, who missed a big chunk of last year’s IPL, will have to play a crucial role in the second half of this edition if the Daredevils have to scrap past the competition to finish fourth, the position they occupy now, almost miraculously.
Zaheer’s inclusion in place of Dominic Joseph is also helping Delhi get a better balance in their eleven. Saurabh Tiwary replaced the spinner Shahbaz Nadeem for the game against Punjab, adding more depth to their batting.
Imran Tahir’s form will, however, concern the Delhi management a bit. Whether the decision to hold back Tahir yesterday was to use him as an attacking option at the death or to protect him from the southpaw-heavy Kings XI lineup is arguable. Either way, it backfired for Delhi as Tahir’s length balls were launched into the stands by Miller and Patel.
But the joint-leading wicket taker in the IPL this year is more than capable of coming back. At a time when Delhi’s bowling line-up is close to full strength, Gary Kirsten will hope he gets back his wicket-taking groove back at the business end of the tournament.
For now though, Delhi will be glad to finish their home-leg at the Kotla with a win and a convincing one at that. Duminy must be thanking his lucky stars for letting him win a toss at home at long last.
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There are many places to start the analysis of Friday’s big win for Delhi. We could talk about the one-off lavender jersey launched in partnership with Yuvraj Singh’s YOUWECAN foundation to raise awareness about cancer survivors. We could talk about Nathan Coulter-Nile’s man-of-the-match effort of 4 wickets for a meager 20 runs in his 4 overs. We could talk about Shreyas Iyer’s stylish half-century that saw Delhi chase down the target of 118 in the 14th over. We could talk about Delhi’s first opening partnership of more than 50 in this year’s IPL as Mayank Agarwal played some cracking cuts and pulls, to put on 106 with Iyer.
But there is only one place to start. In one of the feel-best moments of this year’s IPL, Zaheer Khan played in a competitive match after 363 days and completed a typically canny spell, finishing with figures of 2 for 17 in his four overs.
Zaheer can and Zaheer did. Take a bow!
Near-perfect opening burst from Zaheer
It was the second ball of the match. Virender Sehwag was on strike. Zaheer came steaming in and landed one on a perfect good length on Sehwag’s off stump, moving away ever so slightly. Duminy had placed Angelo Mathews at short-point – a position that has often seen Viru perish playing the uppish square cut – no doubt from Zaheer’s input. The bat came down hard and Mathews made no mistake, gobbling up the chance. Sehwag, yet again, failed to make an impact.
And there it was, Zaheer’s trademark celebration that fans have grown used to over the years. Arms outstretched and raised towards the heavens, eyes closed and jaws clenched, before letting out a roar of satisfaction.
Then, in his second over, Zaheer accounted for Manan Vohra with a short-of-good-length ball when he saw the batsman step down the track early. The ball kicked up from the surface, Vohra got cramped for room and edged one to the ‘keeper. Another wicket, another roar. He was having a near-perfect comeback and he was enjoying every bit of it.
Even when he came on to bowl the 17th over, when David Miller and Axar Patel were trying to get a move on, Zaheer conceded just 5 runs. The variations that he is renowned for were out in full view as he cleverly mixed his off-cutters with yorkers outside off.
“Unbelievable, isn't it?” said Duminy, speaking about Zaheer's comeback. “His experience is great to have in the side. So great to have him back.”
“The feeling is mutual,” uttered thousands of other Indian fans.
Delhi’s bowling attack sets up the win
Nathan Coulter-Nile had been blowing hot and cold in the first half of this tournament. Against Punjab, he got his rewards for hitting the right length to snare Saha caught-behind. He changed his angle, coming round the wicket to get the left-handers Thisira Perera, Axar Patel and David Miller. The bowler, who missed a big chunk of last year’s IPL, will have to play a crucial role in the second half of this edition if the Daredevils have to scrap past the competition to finish fourth, the position they occupy now, almost miraculously.
Zaheer’s inclusion in place of Dominic Joseph is also helping Delhi get a better balance in their eleven. Saurabh Tiwary replaced the spinner Shahbaz Nadeem for the game against Punjab, adding more depth to their batting.
Imran Tahir’s form will, however, concern the Delhi management a bit. Whether the decision to hold back Tahir yesterday was to use him as an attacking option at the death or to protect him from the southpaw-heavy Kings XI lineup is arguable. Either way, it backfired for Delhi as Tahir’s length balls were launched into the stands by Miller and Patel.
But the joint-leading wicket taker in the IPL this year is more than capable of coming back. At a time when Delhi’s bowling line-up is close to full strength, Gary Kirsten will hope he gets back his wicket-taking groove back at the business end of the tournament.
For now though, Delhi will be glad to finish their home-leg at the Kotla with a win and a convincing one at that. Duminy must be thanking his lucky stars for letting him win a toss at home at long last.
