*GT VS DC MATCH 44 REVIEW*
*DELHI’S BATTING GROUP WITH ANOTHER DISASTROUS EFFORT:*
Though DC won this game, the talking point somewhat has to be about their inconsistent batting order, that continues to show up every other day at different venues and versus different oppositions. This pitch was not as bad as Delhi made it look like, the fact that they slipped to 23/5 courtesy a Shami special was as disastrous as it could get. Shami started off with an eventful over and within the powerplay, did the majority of the damage, claiming four wickets and dismantling Delhi’s top order. Even Warner, who has been DC’s highest run getter this season ran short on luck and departed for a single digit score of just 2.
The scores of DC’s top 5 batters read as 0, 2, 10, 8 and 1- This is as sorry a scorecard can look but there was light at the end of the tunnel as the next three batters in Axar Patel, Aman Khan and Ripal Patel all scaled above the 20 run mark, helping Delhi get to a respectable total. With Aman chipping in with a solid 51 off 44 with 3 sixes and fours apiece, it was the little cameo from Ripal Patel at the end that powered Delhi to 130.
*DC DO THE UNTHINKABLE AS GT SUFFERS THIRD LOSS OF THE SEASON:*
Who would have thought that a team ranked 10, dented with poor form, bad luck and injuries would be able to come on top against Gujarat who had lost just two before this. What makes it even more interesting is how DC did this at an away venue where GT have been phenomenal. It started off with a miraculous start with all of Delhi’s pacers turning the heat and reducing GT to 33/4, including the important wickets of Gill, Shankar and Miller, all of whom have been in incredulous touch. Hardik and Manohar further did the rebuilding job with Hardik starting strongly with the bat and maintaining his cool however they just couldn’t pick up and up the ante. Manohar was there at the crease for a long while but ended up playing a poor knock with a strike rate of just 78. While Hardik stuck till the end, it was a little too late before he started the carnage. However, The man the myth and the legend that Tewatia is, was sensational again. He rocketed to a 7 ball 20 smashing Nortje( DC’s premier bowler) for three sixes in a row at the end of the 19th over and bringing the hopes back in. But a stunning and consistent last over from Ishant was all DC needed to record their third win of the tournament and pulling some crucial momentum ahead of an important clash vs RCB at the 6th of May.