Daredevils post 145/4 against Royal Challengers

Sharjah, April 17 (IANS) Delhi Daredevils rose from an early slump to post a respectable 145/4 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium here Thursday.

The Delhi-based team were in trouble after being put in to bat as they slumped to 35/4 by the start of the eighth over. But a fantastic 110-run fifth-wicket partnership between South Africa’s JP Duminy and New Zealander Ross Taylor first took the team out of trouble and then helped post a decent total.

Duminy slammed a brilliant 67 not out off 48 deliveries, which included four boundaries and three sixes while Taylor provided him good support with an unbeaten 43 off 38 balls, including four fours.

Early on, openers Mayank Agarwal (6) and Murali Vijay (18) could not provide the start the team wanted while captain Dinesh Karthik got out on first ball duck. Manoj Tiwary also perished for a measly 1.

Bangalore pacer Varun Aaron was the star bowler with figures of 3-1-9-1 while Yuzvendra Chahal provided him good support with 1-18 from his four overs.

Australia’s Mitchell Starc and South Africa’s Albie Morkel also clinched a wicket each.