Pune: Sanju Samson, once the ‘Emerging Player of IPL’ before fading away for a while, stormed into the headlines with the first century of IPL X as Delhi Daredevils throttled Rising Pune Supergiants by 97 runs Tuesday.
The Kerala batsman, who last scored a half-century in any form of T20 contest in last year’s IPL, set the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium alight with a sparkling 102 which came off 63 deliveries. Delhi piled up a daunting 205 for four wickets – a total against which the hosts crumbled to 108 all out in 16.1 overs.
After opener Aditya Tare fell without scoring, Samson laid the foundation for a decent score with an enterprising 69-run partnership with Australian Sam Billings. Pacing his innings with the maturity he was known for till a few seasons back, Samson cracked eight boundaries and five sixes – reaching the three-figure mark with a lofted drive off leg spinner Adam Zampa which sailed over deep mid-wicket.
Ajinkya Rahane, who led the Pune outfit in the absence of an indisposed Steven Smith, failed to give his team the start required for a 10-plus asking rate. Picking a fuller length Zaheer Khan delivery to clear it down the ground, he only holed it to centurion Samson – making it his day.
Faf Du Plessis, South Africa’s T20 captain who came into the side for Smith, failed to stablise things – getting caught behind off left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem. The Pune innings crumbled thereafter to present a sorry batting card with opener Mayank Agarwal’s 20 being their best effort. The wily Zaheer and senior leg spinner Amit Mishra picking up three wickets each.
Smith has been ruled out with an upset stomach while Manoj Tiwary, who lost his father on Tuesday morning, rushed off to be with his family in Kolkata.
Daredevils, who replaced Carlos Brathwaite with New Zealander Corey Anderson, lost the tempo somewhat after Rishav Pant fell for a brisk 31 off 22 deliveries.
Samson’s power-hitting, alongwith utility man Chris Morris’ 38 off nine deliveries at the death, finally took Delhi over the 200-mark.
Delhi Daredevils 205 for four (S.Samson 102, C.Morris 38, R.Pant 31) vs Rising Pune Supergiant 108 all out in 16.1 overs (M.Agarwal 20; Z.Khan 3/20, A.Mishra 3/11). Delhi Daredevils won by 97 runs
