Iyer scored his sixth IPL fifty

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Shreyas Iyer struck a brilliant 96 to lead the Delhi Daredevils to a two-wicket win over the Gujarat Lions.

Opting to bowl first, the Daredevils got an early breakthrough as Lions opener Dwayne Smith was run out by Amit Mishra for eight runs.

Captain Suresh Raina and Ishan Kishan fell shortly after for six and 34 runs respectively.

Dinesh Karthik and Aaron Finch stabilised the innings with a 92-run partnership before Karthik was dismissed by Carlos Brathwaite for 40.

Finch went on to make 69 off 39 balls, which included six boundaries and four sixes, before he was clean bowled by Mohammed Shami.

Finch’s 13th IPL fifty went in vain

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Thanks to Finch, the Lions managed to make 195/5 off their 20 overs.

Shami, Mishra, Brathwaite and Pat Cummins picked up one wicket apiece.

Chasing 196 to win, the Daredevils were dealt two big blows early on as Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant were removed in the space of three balls.

Iyer and Karun Nair made up for the loss of Samson and Pant as they put together a 57-run partnership before Nair was sent packing by James Faulkner for 30.

Following Nair’s dismissal, the Daredevils began to collapse, but Iyer and Cummins came to the rescue when they had been reduced to 121/6.

The duo amassed a 61-run stand to bring their side within touching distance of victory before Cummins was dismissed by Faulkner for 24.

Even though Iyer was clean bowled by Basil Thampi for 96, which came off 57 balls and included 15 boundaries and two sixes, the Daredevils still reached their target with two balls to spare.

Faulkner was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Thampi, Pradeep Sangwan and Dhawal Kulkarni claimed one wicket each.

Iyer was named Man of the Match.