Yusuf Pathan's immense self-belief couple with Graeme Smith's tenacity took Rajasthan Royals to a stunning five-wicket victory over Delhi Daredevils in a low-scoring in the DLF Indian Premier League on Tuesday. Pathan's clean hitting and Smith's steady innings ensured a win Rajasthan Royals which rose to the fourth spot with five points.
Walking in to bat at 64 for five in the 11 over - and with 80 runs needed for the victory - Pathan hit six sixes and three fours in making an unbeaten 62 off 30 deliveries to take the side home and dry with as many as nine deliveries left. Smith was left unbeaten on 44 off 46 balls (five fours), enjoying Pathan's aggression from some 20 yards away during the 83-run stand.
"It was my day. I was able to hit the ball well," Pathan said after collecting his man of the match award that nobody could ever grudge. "But you have to give credit to Graeme Smith for his innings, too."
Of course, Smith held the innings together even as Delhi Daredevils bowlers, led by Amit Mishra clawed their way back into the game after the team had made just 143 for seven in 20 overs. Mishra took three wickets in his first three overs and was instrumental in running out Swapnil Asnodkar with a direct hit to peg Rajasthan Royals back.
Pathan struck Daniel Vettori for three sixes and 27 balls off the eight deliveries he faced from the seasoned left-arm spinner and when Mishra came back for his fourth over, the gangling batsman responded with a six and a four to turn the match on its head. Pathan's clinical strikes first left rival captain Virender Sehwag chewing his fingernails -- and then smiling in awe.
Earlier, despite a half-century by AB de Villiers Delhi Daredevils never really recovered from the early departures of Gautam Gambhir - who failed yet again and now has just 39 runs this IPL season - and Sehwag. Both were prised out by Dmitri Mascarenhas and Tillakaratne Dilshan's rare failure hurt the side when Rajasthan Royals bowled with passion and much purpose
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