IPL: 3 epic clashes between DD and RCB at the Feroz Shah Kotla
We are at the business end of the tournament and yet there are 6 teams fighting for the playoffs spot. Currently, Sunrisers Hyderabad is the only team to have confirmed their birth for the playoffs. Delhi Daredevils are out of the tournament and they will be playing for pride at their home ground, whereas Royal Challengers Bangalore need to win this game to stay alive in the tournament. A loss would mean they are out of the tournament. Both the teams are coming from a disappointing loss in their previous games and would want to change their fortunes in this crucial encounter.
Both the teams have clashed against each other 7 times at the Feroz Shah Kotla and RCB have a great record by winning 5 games and losing just 2 games.
Let us look at 3 epic encounters between both the sides at the iconic Feroz Shah Kotla
#3 Chris Gayle’s 128* powers RCB to a win in a high scoring run feast - 2012
The skipper of Delhi Daredevils, Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and elected to bowl first on a flat deck at the Kotla. Tillakaratne Dilshan was dismissed in the 3rd over for 10 when the Sri Lankan was caught at mid-on region trying to flick one towards the leg side that caught the leading edge of the bowling of Varun Aaron. However, this was the only wicket to fall as Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli stayed undefeated as the pair added 204 runs for the second wicket to help RCB put up a mammoth score of 215/1 in their allotted 20 overs.
Chris Gayle tore apart the Delhi bowlers as he smashed his way to a breathtaking 128 in just 62 deliveries. He started his innings slowly scoring only 38 runs in his first 34 balls, but the real onslaught began after 34 deliveries as he scored the next 62 runs in just 19 balls to bring up a memorable century in just 53 balls. His knock of 128 comprised of 7 boundaries and 13 huge maximums. On the other hand, Virat Kohli raced his way to a 53 ball 73*. Unlike Gayle, Kohli’s knock was full of classy shots all over the ground. His knock consisted of 9 boundaries and 1 maximum.
Barring Varun Aaron none of the Delhi Daredevils bowlers could make an impact and all of them were taken to the cleaners.
In reply, Delhi Daredevils openers got the team off to a decent start but they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The top order chipped in with important runs but none of them could go on and get a big score. Unmukt Chand (18 of 10), David Warner (15 of 9), Venugopal Rao (36 of 24), couldn’t capitalize on the starts they had and soon Delhi were reduced to 4-107 in 11.3 overs.
However, Ross Taylor was the silver lining in the Delhi innings as he smashed the Bangalore bowlers with disdain. He aggressive knock of 55 brought some hope for an unlikely win but it vanished when he was holed out in the deep trying to smash one towards the midwicket boundary. His knock of 55 (26) comprised of 2 maximums and 7 boundaries. Andre Russell 31(15) provided some entertainment with some lusty blows in the end but it was a bridge too far as Delhi closed the innings at 194/9.
Zaheer Khan was the pick of the bowlers with 3-38 in 4 overs, while Prashant Parameshwaran chipped in with 3 wickets and Vinay Kumar with 2-35. RCB won the game by 21 runs and for his blistering 128*, Chris Gayle was awarded Man of the Match.