Playoff listings: DD 1

[rkt.india]

Standing at first slip, Mahela Jayawardene had a sudden change of heart, deciding to give the second over to Umesh Yadav even though he had signaled Varun Aaron. The reason was that the breeze would aid YadavÃÔ outswing more than AaronÃÔ inswing. It turned out to be a masterstroke as Yadav dismissed Mandeep Singh first ball, returning a dream-like first spell of 3-1-4-3. Umesh has now bowled 132 dot balls an equivalent of 22 maiden overs from his 53 overs, picking up 17 wickets, adding the virtues of economy to his reputation as an impact bowler. Though unsung, Yadav has done more than his share in DelhiÃÔ rise to the top of the table this season. On Saturday, YadavÃÔ (three for 19) man-of-the-match spell along with MorkelÃÔ (four for 20) effort on a HPCA-track that offered help, helped Delhi to a six-wicket win that shunted Punjab out of playoff contention. Jayawardene bowled out his five pacers, a rarity in the IPL, but they more than repaid his faith in them. On the other hand, Adam GilchristÃÔ decision of recalling Paul Vathaty for this crunch didnÃÕ work for Kings XI Punjab. Coming in after MandeepÃÔ dismissal, Valthaty struggled to get bat on ball before upper-cutting Morkel to third man. In the previous over, Umesh had sent back Gilchrist with a short ball that bounced more than the southpaw expected. The attempted pull went only as far as Aaron at mid on. When David Hussey mis-timed another of YadavÃÔ short delivery, Punjab were struggling at 20 for 4. Siddharth Chitnis, Azhar Mahmood and Gurkeerat Mann scored 38, 36, 26 in a sequence that somehow helped Punjab get to a par score of 141 for eight. Irfan Pathan, Andre Russell and Varun Aaron couldnÃÕ keep up the good work of the new-ball duo, going for 101 in 12 overs. Rearguard action Azhar Mahmood and Siddharth Chitnis put together a 57-run partnership at more than run-a-ball the latter hitting five boundaries and a six in his 32-ball 38 before throwing his wicket away. Gurkeerat, dropped on 16 by Aaron, added 45 in four overs with Mahmood, including 22 runs in an over from Russell. Mahmood anchored the innings with his 36, first playing second fiddle to Chitnis before turning it on with a few crisp hits square of the wicket. What made the par score look inadequate was the form of Delhi opener Warner. With an unbeaten century already under his belt this edition, Warner was in good touch. In the company of Unmukt Chand, the Australian helped Delhi to a rousing start, as the pair scored at close to ten an over. Warner made 79 off 44 balls ten hits to the fence and four sixes, three of which came in one Parvinder Awana over which was hammered for 23 runs. It did not also help that Warner was dropped off the last ball of the Awana over by Mandeep and it snuffed out whatever little hope that the Punjab team was hanging on to. While the crowd at the stadium remained subdued for most parts of the game, fans in Chennai and Mumbai would surely celebrate. The Delhi win ensured Mumbai as the third team in the playoff while Chennai remain in contention, although qualification is a long shot for the defending champions. After the elimination of Rajasthan Royals, and now Kings XI Punjab, the final slot for qualification will be decided when Royal Challengers takes on Deccan Chargers on Sunday, where a win will see the Bangalore side through. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/playoff-listings-dd-1/951518/

[Number]

I doubt any other captain would have played 2 Indian Pacers with 1 Foriegn pacer already in the XI.Add to that a medium pace All rounder. :hatsoff: to DD and Viru.

[Roshanrocks]

I thought this thread was about timings of playoff matches on Doordarshan :P

[JourneyMan]

The pace attack is working well. They should keep Aaron and Yadav and bring in Nadeem for some spin (maybe for Russell, who in turn can be replaced by Taylor).

[Sidhoni]

I thought this thread was about timings of playoff matches on Doordarshan :P

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

[Magneto]

I thought this thread was about timings of playoff matches on Doordarshan :P

:dito:

[Number]

VeluGopal Rao. :facepalm: No strength, no improvisation. How this is playing at no. 5 in a T20 batting line up. He lost Delhi a few games last year too. Next game - Drop him for Nagar. Also drop 1 pacer for Shahbaz Nadeem.