One method to ensuring a good strike rate without much ado is to keep hitting sixes. Chris Gayle does that very well; he even allows himself the luxury of playing a number of dot balls in the beginning of his innings. On Thursday night, Rishabh Pant struck nine sixes in his 97 to help Delhi Daredevils chase down the target of 209 against Gujarat Lions with as many as 15 balls to spare. This was possible as Pant consumed only 43 balls for his runs.
His hits were of all kinds. When the ball appeared ripe to smack, he obliged. Among his sixes were flicks and drives and a pull, besides the slogs through leg. Basil Thampi, Pradeep Sangwan, Ankit Soni, Suresh Raina, James Faulkner and Ravindra Jadeja were all punished. The 11th over of the chase was the highlight. Three sixes, a four and a single were collected off Faulkner; from 9.60 per over, the required run-rate fell down to 8.00 per over with that attack.
He fell looking for a slog, but by this time, Daredevils required 31 off 34 balls, a task the team achieved without further hiccups.
This is Pant’s second half-century this season, and the first one in a winning cause.
Comments
SHARE