5 memorable moments from the DD vs GL match that don’t fade away

After a streak of losses that spanned five matches, the Delhi Daredevils finally got some points on the table when they got the better of Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday. And they continued the momentum when they got the better of the Gujarat Lions in Match No. 43 of IPL 10.

On the back of a gutsy innings by Suresh Raina (77 off 43) and Dinesh Karthik (65 off 34), the visitors went on to post a total of 208 on the board. But Gujarat’s bowlers could do little to break the partnership between Sanju Samson (61 off 31) and Rishabh Pant (97 off 43), which took Delhi to 7 wicket win.

Extra Cover: IPL 2017, DD vs GL: Player Ratings

Here are 5 memorable moments from the match that don't fade away, quite like the Axe Signature range of body perfumes.

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#1 Kagiso Rabada’s opening burst

Both the Gujarat Lions openers Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith looked in sublime form, scoring 10 runs off the first over of the game bowled by Shahbaz Nadeem. But then struck Rabada in the second over of the innings to dismiss McCullum for 1.

The 21-year-old South African pitched the ball on a length and got it to seam away a touch. McCullum fished at it and the ball kissed the outside edge to sail through to Rishabh Pant. In the same over, Nadeem ran-out Smith to further break Gujarat’s momentum.

Kagiso Rabada’s pace is an axe moment that does not fade away.

#2 Captain’s knock (77 off 43)

Raina led from the front

Suresh Raina, along with Brendon McCullum, tops the batting charts for Gujarat Lions in the 2017 season but have found little support from teammates. Against Delhi, Raina once again proved that he is a behemoth when it comes to the cash-rich league.

After a slightly slow start against the rapid Kagiso Rabada, Raina quickly got into his groove as he flayed the Delhi bowling all over the Kotla. He moved around the crease to make his own lengths and then relied on his timing and power to find the boundaries.

His trademark slogs over cow corner and the lofted inside out stroke through the covers were in full flow and he took a special liking to Shami. His knock was instrumental in Gujarat's innings and does not fade away.

#3 Delhi’s haphazard fielding

Delhi’s fielding was poor on the night

Although Corey Anderson and Rishabh Pant took spectacular catches to dismiss Dinesh Karthik and Aaron Finch respectively, there were several instances of Delhi’s sloppy fielding on show. The two which stood out were the dropped catches of Suresh Raina, who went on to make 77 off 43 before being run-out.

In the second over, Rabada bowled a bouncer to Raina which went down the leg-side. Raina tried to pull, only for the ball to take the back of the bat and fly to first slip where Shreyas Iyer dropped it.

Again in the 6th over, the ball off Raina’s bat went at a catchable height to mid-wicket, and although it was hit with power, Samuels try to grab it above his head but failed as it popped out.

#4 Rishabh Pant’s attacking innings

Pant dismantled the Gujarat bowling attack

Pant came out, and right from the word go, started pounding the bowlers. No one was spared and the willow swatted and smashed the bowlers into submission. His pick up slogs over deep mid wicket stood out but then his ability to pierce the off side was also impressive.

He missed out on his century by only 3 runs, after being sent back by Basil Thampi on 97. He was well supported by Sanju Samson, who scored a 31 ball 61 to create a partnership of 143 with Pant.

Pant’s gutsy innings, and his partnership with Samson does not fade away.

#5 Gujarat’s poor bowling

The GL bowlers had no answer

Although the visitors’ batting department was up to the mark, their bowling attack was a major let down. The Gujarat bowlers looked helpless, and had no answers to the attacking wrath and skills exhibited by Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant.

The spinners were clueless and Faulkner too looked out of sorts in the face of the Pant onslaught. Raina tried his best to change the pace of the game but all his bowlers were carted around the Kotla in front of a loud explosive crowd which lapped all of it up.