Preview: In their quest to enter the final for the first time and lift the title that has eluded it over the last nine years, Delhi Daredevils (DD) are hoping to tame hosts Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a winning start in the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL-10 T20) tournament on Saturday. [caption id=“attachment_3375044” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] It’s RCB vs DD at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. Sportzpics[/caption] “Realistically, in T20 anything can happen on any given day. What we are looking for is to put in place our preparation and execute our plans to start the season on a winning note,” DD Head Coach Paddy Upton told reporters ahead of the tie. As only one team wins in any format of the game, the former South African player said the team was focused more on processes and roles of each player for the long season ahead and qualifying for the semis after 14 league ties. “What is important for us is to set ourselves for the best possible chance to win the first game and have the result go our way in every game we play over the next six weeks. We are not really focused on winning or losing but getting into the rhythm for the season and make to the play-offs,” asserted Upton. Even as RCB bets on home advantage to bounce back after losing its first tie to Sun Risers Hyderabad by 35 runs on Wednesday in Hyderabad, DD is pinning on its seasoned players to take on the hosts in the absence of South Africans J.P. Duminy and Quinton de Kock, Sri Lankan Angelo Mathews and Shreyas Iyer. Duminy pulled out this season for personal reasons, while de Kock and Iyer are recovering from injury and Mathews is waiting for the Lankan board’s clearance to join the team soon. “We are fortunate that the squad we selected has a strong back-up though it is a blow not to have Duminy this season and Angelo, Quinton and Iyer for this game. We have a good back-up not to compromise on the team’s composition. We have Sam Billings and Sanju Samson at the top, Cory Anderson, Karun Nair and Craig Brathwaite in the middle for the slog overs,” reiterated Upton. With skipper Zaheer Khan fit and raring to bowl, the Daredevils are counting on its ace spinner Amit Mishra and pacer Mohammed Shami to lead the bowling attack. DD’s wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant, though bereaved by the loss of his father on Wednesday, joined the team on Friday to keep the wickets in the tie. With inputs from IANS
Highlights IPL 2017 RCB vs DD, cricket scores and result: Shane Watson and Co win by 15 runs
Delhi Daredevils (DD) take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their first match of !PL 2017. Follow our live blog for regular scores and updates.
 "Highlights IPL 2017 RCB vs DD, cricket scores and result: Shane Watson and Co win by 15 runs")
Did you know?
157 is the joint second lowest total defended by a team at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore in IPL. The lowest is 156 twice by RCB against DC (in 2008) and MI (in 2013).
Shane Watson: It was a great win. Kedar batted beautifully. Chahal is very skillful. They (the RCB stars) will be back next game.
Kedar: I feel on the top of my game and improving my fitness so that I can go with this form for the longer period. When two of the top players are not playing, you have to take responsibility. Want to do that for the rest of the tournament and take the team across the line.
Guts, glory and respect.
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 8, 2017
Well played #DIlliBoy @RishabPant777.#RCBvDD#DDTweets#DilDilliHai pic.twitter.com/IXewfgtg19
A great match indeed. Our hearts go out to the #DilliBoys. Congratulations @RCBTweets on a great game. #DilDilliHai
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 8, 2017
When u lack cricketing sense no matter what u do u won't win a game Mishra had brain fade
— Makarand Waingankar (@wmakarand) April 8, 2017
Did you know:
157 is the joint second lowest total defended by a team at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore in IPL. The lowest is 156 twice by RCB against DC (in 2008) and MI (in 2013).
Win or Loss, The Young Boy Rishabh Pant won The lot of hearts & your real winning today Rishabh. Respect For You Rishabh #IPL
— Rajesh Khilare (@Cricrajeshpk) April 8, 2017
Rishabh Pant played only 7 balls between overs 15-19.
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) April 8, 2017
That cost DD the game#RCBvDD
After 20 overs,Delhi Daredevils 142/9 ( Amit Mishra 8 , Zaheer Khan (C) 1)
Pawan Negi comes to bowl his first over of the match in the what is the last over of the match and gets Pant bowled. It may be all over for Delhi now. Nadeem is the new man in. Huge appeal for stumping against him, but replays show he had his foot grounded behind the crease. Safe. 19 runs off the last four balls. Nadeem skies the third ball and Negi takes the catch off his own bowling. Zaheer is the new man in. Not much happens in the last three balls. RCB win by 15 runs and get back to winning ways after a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the season opener.
OUT! Nadeem caught by Negi off his own bowling. He goes without scoring. Delhi 139/9 in the last over.
Nadeem c and b Negi 0(2)
Zaheer is the new man in.
OUT! Pant is bowled. Delhi 139/8 in the last over.
Pant b Negi 57(36)
Nadeem the new man in.
After 19 overs,Delhi Daredevils 139/7 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 57 , Amit Mishra 6)
Shane Watson for his last over – the penultimate over of the Delhi innings. Delhi’s hopes rest on solely on Pant. A big shout for LBW against Mishra. Not out given. Mishra takes a single and gives Pant the strike. Pant is off the strike on the next ball. Mishra wastes two deliveries. He is swinging his bat and missing. Doesn’t need to do this though. All he needs to do is to give Pant the strike. Goes outside the off stump to play a scoop to fine leg. Misses again. Poor strategy from Mishra this. Delhi need 19 off the last over. Surely, advantage RCB now.
Youngest WKs to score a fifty in IPL:
18y 169d – Sanju Samson
19y 1d – Shreevats Goswami
19y 160d – Sanju Samson
19y 186d – RISHABH PANT*
19y 195d – Sanju Samson
After 18 overs,Delhi Daredevils 137/7 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 56 , Amit Mishra 5)
Mills for his last over. An upper cut by Mishra and Delhi get two at third man. Good change of pace from Mills in the third ball. Pant doesn’t time it at all and gone straight to the bowler’s hand. But it doesn’t and Pant gets a single which takes him to his fifty. No celebration from Pant. He knows the job is still not done. Mills to Mishra and he surprises the batsman with a beautiful slower bouncer. The ball hits the batsman’s raised hand. Pant goes big on the last ball and gets a maximum over fine leg. Delhi need 21 off the last two overs.
He's 20,been performing the last rites for his father & he's come to play a special innings for #DD. Rishabh Pant is going to be some player
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 8, 2017
Youngest WKs to score a fifty in IPL:
18y 169d – Sanju Samson
19y 1d – Shreevats Goswami
19y 160d – Sanju Samson
19y 186d – RISHABH PANT*
19y 195d – Sanju Samson
After 17 overs,Delhi Daredevils 126/7 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 49 , Amit Mishra 1)
Watson back for his third over and the first ball is giveaway. It slides down the leg side and Cummins helps himself with a four. Watson hits back and has Cummins bowled with the next ball. A straight ball on good length. Cummins gets an inside edge and the ball hits the top of the stumps. Amit Mishra is the new man in. Someone needs to stay with Pant. this is Mishra’s chance to make amends for the runs he conceded. Pant approaching a fifty, but plays and misses the last ball of that Watson over. Delhi need 32 runs in the final three overs.
OUT! Cummins bowled by Watson. Delhi 125/7 in the 17th over.
Pat Cummins b Watson 6(6)
Amit Mishra is the new man in.
After 16 overs,Delhi Daredevils 121/6 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 49 , Pat Cummins 2)
Mills back in the attack. Pant plays another bold shot and gets a boundary at midwicket. He is unfazed even with wickets falling around him. Can he pull it off for Delhi. What a story that will be, especially with all the troubles in his personal life recently. Eight runs from that over. And that’s the strategic timeout.
Whatever happens in this match, Pant's effort is just incredible. It must be so difficult for him. Really feel for the guy.
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) April 8, 2017
Most wickets by leg-spinners in IPL:
124 – Amit Mishra
121 – Piyush Chawla
58 – YUZVENDRA CHAHAL*
57 – Shane Warne
45 – Anil Kumble
After 15 overs,Delhi Daredevils 113/6 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 43 , Pat Cummins 0)
Chahal back for his last over. Chahal to Pant. A mouth-watering contest. Pant hammers a full delivery straight at the bowler, which catches Chahal on the leg. That would hurt. Would go down as the dropped chance, but a very difficult chance.
There is a howler from the umpire in the meantime. Chahal raps Brathwaite on the pads. It is as plumb as it can get, but the umpire says not out. Replays show no inside edge. Chahal can’t believe it, nor can his RCB mates. Boos are heard all around the ground. But what a poetic justice for Chahal. Clean bowls Brathwaite. There is another shout off the last ball of the over. Not out given again. A right call this time around as the batsman got an inside edge.
Pat Cummins meanwhile comes in to join Pant in the middle.
Tough time for Risabh Pant. Quite amazing he's out there. Can guarantee that everyone in the cricket family is willing him to win this
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) April 8, 2017
Most wickets by leg-spinners in IPL:
124 – Amit Mishra
121 – Piyush Chawla
58 – YUZVENDRA CHAHAL*
57 – Shane Warne
45 – Anil Kumble
OUT! Brathwaite clean bowled by Chahal. Delhi 113/6 in the 15th over.
Brathwaite b Chahal 1(5)
Pat Cummins is the new man in.
Two teams doing their damnedest to not win. That odd player shining to not let it happen #RCBvDD #IPL2017
— Vincent Sunder (@vincentsunder) April 8, 2017
After 14 overs,Delhi Daredevils 112/5 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 42 , Carlos Brathwaite 1)
Watson bowls the 14th over. Bowling with good changes of pace. Brathwaite ducks underneath a slow bouncer. Five runs from that over. A good one for RCB in the context of the match.
After 13 overs,Delhi Daredevils 107/5 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 38 , )
Rishabh Pant cuts a wide one from Abdullah to the backward point fence and goes big on the next ball. Goes down on one knee and sends the ball soaring over the long on boundary. The next delivery is wide outside off and the then Abdullah bowls a leg side wide. Pant is forcing the bowler to get his line all messed up. Abdullah gets it right with the last ball of the over and catches Morris plumb in front of the stumps with one that did not spin. A costly over though with 13 runs coming from that over.
That brings Carlos Brathwaite of the ‘Remember the name’ fame to the crease.
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