Jesse Ryder starred in the Pune Warriors’ impressive 20-run victory over the Delhi Daredevils, while Faf du Plessis helped the Chennai Super Kings carve out a last-ball win over the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on Saturday.
Ryder struck four sixes and seven fours in his 86, adding 93 for the second wicket with captain Sourav Ganguly (41) as Pune scored an intimidating 192-3 at Ferozeshah Kotla Ground. Delhi could reply with only 172-7.
Ryder got two lucky top-edged sixes early in his innings and maintained the flow with some fine shots, even after Ganguly’s departure. Steven Smith then produced a 13-ball cameo of 34 not out, in which he bludgeoned two sixes and four fours and showed his ability to switch-hit.
Delhi captain Virender Sehwag top-scored with 57 off 32 balls, with four sixes and five fours, and Kevin Pietersen chipped in with a neat 32, but the home side could not put up a fight even as Ganguly completed a good all-round effort by taking the important wickets of Pietersen and Irfan Pathan.
Delhi remains on top of the table with four wins from six games, while Pune has four from seven.
At Chennai, opener Du Plessis smashed a brisk 73 off 52 balls with two sixes and six fours, but it took a scampered double by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni off pace bowler Stuart Binny to complete the win as Chennai scored 147-3 after restricting Rajasthan to 146-4.
For Rajasthan, England batsman Owais Shah was the standout performer with his effort of 52, smashing three sixes and four fours off 43 balls.
Shah is the second highest run-scorer in this year’s IPL with 268 in seven games.
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