IPL: 3 epic clashes between DD and RCB at the Feroz Shah Kotla

#2 McGrath’s 4-fer sets up a win for Delhi in a high scoring encounter - 2008

This was during the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League in 2008, when both the sides clashed against each other. Put into bat first, Delhi Daredevils got the team off to a great start thanks to the dynamic duo of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. The pair added 53 runs inside 5 overs before Sehwag was run out inside the 30 yards circle of the fielding of Ross Taylor. Rookie Shikhar Dhawan joined Gautam Gambhir and both the batsman started taking the attack to the opposition.

Gautam Gambhir was at his aggressive best, he smashed his way to 86 off just 54 balls. His knock comprised of 11 boundaries and 1 maximum. On the other hand, Shikhar Dhawan notched up his 50 in just 32 balls, his knock comprised of 4 boundaries and 3 maximums. The pair added 98 runs for the second wicket in 60 balls before Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed off the bowling of Jacques Kallis of a blinder from Rahul Dravid at the mid-wicket region. Although RCB bowlers pulled the scoring back by picking up crucial wickets in the end, Delhi managed to put up a daunting total of 191/5 in the 20 overs.

Jacques Kallis was the pick of the bowlers with 2 wickets, whilst Dale Steyn and Zaheer picked up a wicket apiece.

In reply, RCB got off to a poor start losing Praveen Kumar in the very first over of the bowling of Glen McGrath. The experiment to send Praveen Kumar to partner Wasim Jaffer failed. However, Ross Taylor threw caution to the wind as he started smashing the Delhi bowlers. His vigil at the crease was ended by Glenn McGrath again as he chipped one straight into the hands of deep midwicket region for 29. McGrath followed it up by picking up Wasim Jaffer in the very same over. Jaffer mistimed a pull shot that was caught at mid-on region. Suddenly RCB were 48-3 by the end of 5 overs. Skipper Rahul Dravid partnered Jacques Kallis and both the batsman resurrected the innings. The pair added 87 runs for the 4th wicket and raised hopes of an unlikely win for the Royal Challengers.

With more than 14 runs per over required in the last 5 overs, a well set Rahul Dravid skied one to the hands of the fielder at the cover region of the bowling of Glenn Mcgrath for 38. Jacques Kallis continued his way before he was bowled off the bowling of Dan Vettori in the penultimate over for a well made 54. With more than 30 runs required in the last over, Mark Boucher struck few lusty blows but it was too little too late as RCB were short by 10 runs.

Delhi Daredevils won the game by 10 runs and for his excellent piece of bowling; Glenn Mcgrath was awarded Man of the Match. His bowling figures read 4-0-29-4.