The last day of the league competition carried little significance for Delhi Daredevils or Pune Warriors in the context of the competition. However, it provided a chance to avoid becoming the only side in the league's six-year history to finish last twice.
Pune seemed to be more conscious of that fact as they mustered up their best batting performance at home this season, posting a target of 173 to script an easy 38-run victory and avoid finishing at the bottom of the table. Scorecard
The match itself was a lacklustre affair with many misfields and a lack of application with bat and ball by both sides, a battle of the basement teams in every sense.
Sordid play
Still, Delhi produced an underwhelming display true to their sorry run in the season. It was a valiant show from Pune captain Aaron Finch.
The maverick Australian produced an array of shots, bludgeoning the Delhi Daredevils bowling that seemed have lost all focus.
On a dry pitch that did not offer much to the bowlers, Finch's 53 (34b, 3x4, 4x6) proved crucial. After his dismissal, Luke Wright (44 — 23b, 7x4, 1x6) and Angelo Mathews (30 no — 22b, 2x6) gave them the edge with Umesh Yadav conceding 24 runs in one over.
A dropped catch off Mathews by Irfan Pathan at the mid-wicket boundary on the last ball of the 19th over summed up Umesh's day as he gave away 52 runs in his four overs.
A poor reply with the bat for Delhi made the task even easier for Pune.
{{/usCountry}}A poor reply with the bat for Delhi made the task even easier for Pune.
{{/usCountry}}A 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Irfan (24, 28b, 2x4) and CM Gautam (30, 23b, 2x4, 1x6) gave a glimmer of hope.
However, Ali Murtaza, the stand-out performer for Pune, brought the curtains down on Delhi's poor season, bagging three wickets in four overs giving away just 15 runs.