Rishabh Pant hits unbeaten 63-ball 128 for Delhi Daredevils vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Rishabh Pant scored the highest individual score in this year’s Indian Premier League as Delhi Daredevils posted a big total of 187/5 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday
Despite keeping his batting partners edgy with his running between the wickets, even leading to two run outs, Rishabh Pant carved out a fluent century to help Delhi Daredevils reach a challenging total against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match in New Delhi on Thursday. (HIGHLIGHTS)
Pant’s first century of the season also saw him get past the 400-run mark this IPL season and share a 55-run partnership off 37 balls with Harshal Patel for the fourth wicket. It was much-needed as the hosts had found themselves struggling at 48/3 after nine overs. He was unbeaten on 128 off 63 balls - the highest individual score of this year’s IPL. (SCORECARD)
Pant, who reached his century off 56 balls with a four through mid-wicket off Siddharth Kaul, hit 15 fours and seven sixes during his stay at the crease.
He had been one of the few bright spots for the Daredevils this season with three half-centuries to his name. He had scored 69 off 29 in the win over Rajasthan Royals, 79 off 45 in the 13-run loss against CSK and his brilliant 85 off 48 against RCB at Bengaluru, where he surged towards the end with fiery shots, but was overshadowed only by the skill of AB de Villiers.
On Thursday, he began with three boundaries off Siddharh Kaul’s first three deliveries. Pant, despite pressure, managed to place the ball well and pace his innings.
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Even as two run outs – of skipper Shreyas Iyer and Harshal -- resulted out of what seemed like Pant’s poor calling, he kept a calm head, cashing in on opportunities.
The Delhi wicketkeeper-batsman took on Sunrisers’ ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan, squeezing 13 off one of his overs. Pant reverse swept Rashid for four, then swept him for another in the Afghan’s second over. He wound that over up from Rashid with a pull shot to boundary.
That he was batting in a different zone on a tough batting wicket was clear from the fact that he reached his fifty off a six immediately after his partner Harshal was run out. In fact, he turned it on after that, reaching the second fifty off just 20 deliveries.
