IPL 2016 - Stats: Ajinkya Rahane's impressive form continues as RPSG beat Delhi Daredevils

MS Dhoni’s Rising Pune Supergiants are chartering through some rough waters with numerous injuries and losses galore. On the other hand, Delhi Daredevils are enjoying a fine run and have put themselves in a good position to reach the final four.

However, they were landed a huge blow when regular skipper and team leader Zaheer Khan ruled out of the match. JP Duminy stepped in as captain as Pune won the toss and opted to chase.

With useful contributions from most of their batsmen, Delhi Daredevils managed to reach a fighting total. However, it did not turn out to be enough as Ajinkya Rahane played responsibly to help the Supergiants post their third victory, all of which have come while chasing.

Let us take a look at the significant statistics from the tense contest.

0 – Number of batsmen who have scored consecutive fifties in their first two IPL matches. Sam Billings had a chance to become the first one to achieve this feat until he tried an ungainly switch-hit.

1 – Only once has a team won the match while batting second at the Feroz Shah Kotla in this IPL. Apart from Delhi’s successful chase of 112 against Kings XI, all three other pursuits ended in failure.

1 – Medium pacer Rajat Bhatia tops the list of the most economical bowlers in this IPL when a minimum criteria of ten overs is imposed.

2 – For the first time, both openers of an IPL team were less than 22 years of age. Sanju Samson who is 21 opened the innings alongside the 18-year old Rishabh Pant for the Daredevils.

2 – Number of batsmen who have an higher average than Duminy’s 75.50 in this IPL. Only Yusuf Pathan and David Warner average more than the South African.

5 – Different opening batsmen for Delhi Daredevils in this IPL. It is the most for any team during this season.

5 – Delhi batsmen who have been dismissed for scores in the range of 20 and 35. This is the joint highest by a team during an IPL match.

5 – Mohammad Shami’s highest T20 score in his career. The fast bowler has played 47 matches and come in to bat only on 13 occasions.

5 – Fifties for Rahane in this IPL. Joint level with Virat Kohli and Warner, the rest of the Pune batsmen have only four half-centuries combined.

7 – Sixes hit by the powerful Carlos Brathwaite in this IPL. The most startling fact is that he has faced only 23 balls collectively. The West Indian had smashed a similar number of maximums from 28 balls in the ICC World T20.

7 – Gap of matches between the two half-century stands for Supergiants openers in this IPL. After a 78-run partnership with Faf du Plessis in the tournament opener, Rahane joined hands with Usman Khawaja this time.

28 – Number of balls taken by Duminy to register his first boundary. Interestingly, rival skipper Dhoni holds the record for scoring the most runs without a boundary in an IPL match after his 28 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2009.

150 – Imran Tahir became the first South African bowler to scalp 150 wickets in T20s. The leg-spinner reached the landmark when he had Dhoni caught brilliantly by Billings.