Yusuf Pathan's massive self-belief couple with Graeme Smith's firmness took Rajasthan Royals to a dramatic five-wicket victory over Delhi Daredevils in a low-scoring in the Indian Premier League on Tuesday. Yusuf Pathan's clean hitting and Smith's steady innings ensured a win Rajasthan Royals which rose to the fourth place with five points.
Walking in to bat at 64-5 in the 11 over - and with 80 runs wanted for the victory - Yusuf hit six sixes and three fours in making an unbeaten 62 off 30 deliveries to take the side home and dry with as many as nine deliveries left. Smith was left unbeaten on 44 off 46 balls (five fours), enjoying Yusuf Pathan's aggression from some 20 yards away during the 83-run stand.
"It was my day. I was able to hit the ball well," Pathan said after getting his man of the match award that nobody could ever complaint. "But you have to give credit to Graeme Smith for his innings, too."
Of course, Smith held the innings jointly even as Delhi Daredevils bowlers, led by Amit Mishra clawed their way back into the game after the team had made just 143 for seven in 20 overs. Mishra took three wickets in his first three overs and was involved in running out Swapnil Asnodkar with a direct hit to dowel Rajasthan Royals back.
Pathan strike Daniel Vettori for three sixes and 27 balls off the eight deliveries he faced from the experienced left-arm spinner and when Mishra came back for his fourth over, the lanky batsman responded with a six and a four to turn the match on its head. Pathan's clinical strikes first left rival Skipper Virender Sehwag chewing his fingernails and then smiling in fear.
Earlier, despite a half-century by AB de Villiers Delhi Daredevils never really recovered from the early departures of Gautam Gambhir - who failed yet again and now has just 39 runs this IPL 2009 season - and Sehwag. Both were prised out by Dmitri Mascarenhas and Tillakaratne Dilshan's rare failure harm the side when Rajasthan Royals bowled with passion and much purpose.
Walking in to bat at 64-5 in the 11 over - and with 80 runs wanted for the victory - Yusuf hit six sixes and three fours in making an unbeaten 62 off 30 deliveries to take the side home and dry with as many as nine deliveries left. Smith was left unbeaten on 44 off 46 balls (five fours), enjoying Yusuf Pathan's aggression from some 20 yards away during the 83-run stand."It was my day. I was able to hit the ball well," Pathan said after getting his man of the match award that nobody could ever complaint. "But you have to give credit to Graeme Smith for his innings, too."
Of course, Smith held the innings jointly even as Delhi Daredevils bowlers, led by Amit Mishra clawed their way back into the game after the team had made just 143 for seven in 20 overs. Mishra took three wickets in his first three overs and was involved in running out Swapnil Asnodkar with a direct hit to dowel Rajasthan Royals back.
Pathan strike Daniel Vettori for three sixes and 27 balls off the eight deliveries he faced from the experienced left-arm spinner and when Mishra came back for his fourth over, the lanky batsman responded with a six and a four to turn the match on its head. Pathan's clinical strikes first left rival Skipper Virender Sehwag chewing his fingernails and then smiling in fear.Earlier, despite a half-century by AB de Villiers Delhi Daredevils never really recovered from the early departures of Gautam Gambhir - who failed yet again and now has just 39 runs this IPL 2009 season - and Sehwag. Both were prised out by Dmitri Mascarenhas and Tillakaratne Dilshan's rare failure harm the side when Rajasthan Royals bowled with passion and much purpose.
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