Dravid disappointed with 1-run defeat against Daredevils – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/R-Dravid-c2229 has admitted that his side’s narrow 1-wicket defeat, after they had looked to be safely on track for victory against the Delhi Daredevils at the Feroz Shah Kotla on April 29, has been a major cause for disappointment.
“It was disappointing to lose from that position. We had the game within our grasp till the 18th over, but Morne's 19th over was crucial. He bowled really good balls. We must give credit to him the way he bowled under pressure,” said Dravid.
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajinkya-Rahane-c970 (84) got the innings off to a solid start, establishing a 99-run stand which came to an end
in the 14th over, when Dravid was holed out off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Irfan-Pathan-c1601.
Despite the skipper’s exit, the 23-year-old, who is ranked among the most consistent openers in the current season of the Indian Premier League, went on to set up another partnership, this time a 42-run stand with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brad-Hodge-c1184 (22). With 138 runs at the start
of the 19th over, the Royals appeared to be all set to win, but the second-last over, bowled by Proteas pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Morkel-c73528, turned the match around completely.
The pacer went heavy on the yorkers, and only conceded 3 runs, in addition to dismissing Hodge off the last delivery of the over. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umesh-Yadav-c94625 stepped up to bowl the last over, with Dravid’s men needing 12 runs off 6 deliveries, but Morkel had already delivered
the fatal blow, and the Royals were unable to recover, finishing at a close 151 – one run away from what could have been a much-needed victory.
“It happens in Twenty20 cricket. May be we could have finished the game much earlier,” the Royals’ skipper admitted. “But we will have to bounce back (from this defeat), we have no other option. We probably needed the points more than Delhi.”
The Royals started the current season at the top of the points table, but have slid down to 6th place. The Delhi Daredevils, however, are currently at the top of the table, having won 7 of the 9 matches they’ve played.
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