27th April 2016, Ferozshaha Kotla Stadium, Delhi Daredevils against Gujarat Lions, 23rd Match
Chasing 173 runs to win, Delhi Daredevils were in favorites position before they began their innings. They had just sustained an assault from McCullum and Dwayne Smith but had clawed themselves back in the match. Now with dew expected to be present in support, DD had the weight behind them.
The start from the home team was disastrous. They lost their Sanju Samson early with the score reading 2/1 in 2 overs. Dhawal Kulkarni struck double blows in the fourth over and now DD stood at a dangerous 16/3. Rishabh Pant and JP Duminy started the rebuilding process but Pant was out for 20 with DD still needing an impossible 115 runs from 54 balls.
in walked Chris Morris, the million man of the IPL. Earlier in the night, he had removed both McCullum and Raina to keep DD alive in the game, now he had to deliver with the bat as well.
The third ball that Morris faced, he slammed it over long-off a gigantic six. The blade had tasted blood and it was now thirsty for more. He smacked Faulkner for another six to end the over. Next over bowled by Bravo suffered a similar fate as Duminy and Morris carted him for 11 runs.
Captain Raina was now forced to go back to his spinners but with dew setting in, there was no way for spinners to grasp the ball cleanly. Pravin Tambe and Ravindra Jadeja could bowl only one over each and conceded 31 runs in those two overs.
Sensing the panic, Morris became hungrier. In the 17th over bowled by Dwayne Smith, Morris hit the slow-medium pace bowler for 3 consecutive sixes to complete the fastest fifty of the season (18 balls). The target now came down to 28 runs from last three overs.
Lions struck the crucial blow as Bravo dismissed JP Duminy who was supporting Chris Morris so far from the other end. Morris still managed to sneak 11 runs from the over. DD now needed 18 runs from the last two overs.
The penultimate over from Pravin Kumar was a gem. It was an exhibition of how to bowl in the death. he kept varying the length to new-comer Negi and bowled full to Morris which he was unable to get away. The 19th over went for only four runs and GL was back in the hunt.
Dwayne Bravo geared up to bowl the last over. After conceding four on the first ball, he consistently bowled full and straight to Morris, who was unable to hit big. The next five deliveries fetched only 8 runs and DD fell short by only a run. Distraught Morris ended up with not out 82 runs from 32 balls with five fours and eight sixes.
Earlier, it was the brutal opening partnership of McCullum and Smith 112 runs in 64 balls that had a set a brilliant platform. Morris and Tahir clawed back with the bowling figures of 2/35 and 3/24.
