IPL 6: DD vs PWI - The Quick Flicks

When two teams languishing at the bottom of the totem pole battle it out for the wooden spoon, it won’t take a famous astrologer to predict that the quality of cricket won’t be of the highest standard. Unfortunately, that is how it panned out, when Delhi Daredevils played Pune Warriors India. A few sparks of brilliance were invariably offset by players from both teams losing the plot. In the end, Delhi Daredevils won the game by a margin of fifteen runs.

Some snapshots from today’s match:

State-of-the-art cricket stadium

First of all, kudos to all those who were responsible for constructing a state-of-the-art cricket stadium at Raipur. The stadium comes across as a glorious artwork that has been constructed by highly skilled artisans.

Side-screen issues

The game started with Delhi’s batsmen having issues with the side-screen. One can understand why batsmen in world cricket are so particular about the side-screen. But it made me go back in a time machine to the Women’s World Cup played this year, and think of how women cricketers didn’t mind even when fans walked in front of the side-screen.

Warner shores up Delhi Daredevils’ innings

Just like in most other games, Delhi’s top-order flattered to deceive. It was Warner’s mighty fine effort that helped them to make a good fist of their innings. With those rasping pulls and crisply played lofted shots, the swashbuckling batsman made an enterprising 51 off just 25 balls. By sprinting between the wickets like a jack-rabbit, he also stole singles out of nowhere. Warner is certainly your quintessential T20 cricketer.

Death bowling conundrum

Most teams in the IPL continue to grapple with how to bowl in the end overs. Today’s performance by PWI’s bowlers was downright pathetic. PWI’s bowlers kept bowling length, and Warner duly dispatched all those length deliveries deep into the orbit. Gone are the days of quick bowlers sprinting into the crease like a bullet train CRH 380A, and bowling toe-crushing yorkers. The only team that has consistently delivered the goods in the death overs has been CSK. The think-tank’s coup de maitre of asking all of CSK’s right-arm seamers to bowl from around the wicket to not just left-handers but even right-handed batsmen, has certainly worked wonders.

Another royal mess up by Pune Warriors India

In this IPL, nothing has gone right for the beleaguered PWI side. Today, they started well, but couldn’t capitalise on a good start. To rub salt into their wounds, their captain, Finch, got an absolute howler. Yuvraj Singh tried to keep PWI’s flag flying, but didn’t get much support from the other end. It has to be said that Luke Wright struggled to make his mark today. He isn’t a batsman who writes beautiful symphonies with a willow in hand, but believes in giving it a mighty thump. Today though, Daredevils’ bowlers exploited his Achilles’ heel against short stuff, and Luke Wright looked like a fish out of water.

Umesh Yadav gets it right on the money

It was heartening to see at least one pacer getting it bang on the money in the final overs. With a judicious mix of sharp bouncers, yorkers and well disguised slower deliveries, Yadav checkmated PWI’s batsmen in the 18th over of the match.

After so many heart-wrenching losses, the atmosphere inside the PWI’s dressing room must be gloomy. For Delhi Daredevils, this win at least gives them a glimmer of hope of working their way up the ladder in IPL 6.