IPL 6: RR vs DD - The Quick Flicks

Kusal Perera begins in Jayasuriya style

Kusal Jenith Perera, tipped to be the next Sanath Jayasuriya for the Sri Lankan team, started in similar fashion in his IPL debut for the Royals as he first hit Irfan Pathan over the mid-wicket for a boundary, and then smacked two more powerful hits off Umesh Yadav, before he miscued a shot off the next ball into the hands of Pathan at mid-off.

Vintage Dravid!

The former Indian captain returned to competitive cricket after almost a year, but played like a young man, with his typical pulls and straight drives. He also hoisted two sixes over mid-wicket and turned back the clock, much to the delight of his fans. As they say, ‘Walls don’t retire, they become monuments.’

Binny right on the money

Stuart Binny, known for his big-hitting in the domestic circuit, showcased the same today when he was promoted to No.4 to partner Rahul Dravid at the crease. Binny, who looked scratchy at the start, greeted Johan Botha with two towering sixes and soon launched the attack on to the other bowlers, before getting castled by Umesh Yadav.

Royals lose the plot

The Royals looked more than comfortable in the centre with 159/2 on the board in 18 overs, with Dravid and Brad Hodge at the crease. But Yadav and Ashish Nehra just stuck to the basics in the last two overs as the RR batsmen fell like a house of cards to end with a total of just 165-7.

Sreesanth is still Sreesanth

Shanthakumar Sreesanth, last spotted at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, returned to cricket on television today after a pretty long injury lay-off. Many eyes were on him, expecting changes in his bowling and behaviour, but the same old Sreesanth was still visible, with those two wayward deliveries every over, and then the celebrations, like he did after getting young Unmukt Chand out today.

Rahane takes a blinder

Delhi were going good with in-form batsmen Mahela Jayawardene and David Warner looking in good nick, but when Jaya tried to cut Rahul Shukla, Ajinkya Rahane pulled off a blinder at point to leave Delhi in trouble. Rahane had very less time to react but he just popped out of nowhere to take a catch which will surely be in contention for the ‘Catch of the tournament’.

Warner plays the anchor

David Warner, better known for his flying starts, played more of an experienced hand in today’s match as he anchored the innings from the beginning, playing the balls on merit. Warner’s 75 runs almost guided the team to victory, before he lost his wicket to a sharp throw from Brad Hodge. Warner got a reprieve earlier, when he was dropped by a tired Dravid, on 2.

A twist in the tale

Needing 17 off the last two overs with Warner and Russell at the crease and with Shukla and Kevon Cooper as the men to deliver the last two overs, no one would have expected Mumbai Indians to end up on the other side of the tale, as the inexperienced Shukla held his nerve in the penultimate over to give away just 8 runs to set up an exciting final over. Cooper was spot-on in the final over as he got rid of Botha and Russell off the third and fifth deliveries to leave DD 5 runs shy of the target.