IPL-10: Billings, Anderson help Delhi post 188/6 vs Kings XI

Delhi Daredevils rode on opener Sam Billings' half century and a late surge from Corey Anderson to post 188/6 against Kings XI Punjab in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 match at the Feroz Shah Kotla here on Saturday.

Anderson's electrifying unbeaten knock of 39 came from just 22 deliveries and included three fours and as many sixes after Billings set the platform with a 40-ball 55.

Electing to bat after winnings the toss, Delhi were off to a flier with the opening duo of Billings and last match's centurion Sanju Samson (19) putting on 53 runs.

Both mostly dealt in boundaries as the Punjab bowlers erred in line and length in the early part of the innings.

Young Samson started the onslaught from the first over when he flicked medium pacer Sandeep Sharma for four down the legs before adding another to bring up eight runs. Billings on the other hand, started with a pull over mid-on off Mohit Sharma before meting out special treatment to pacer Varun Aaron, slamming three consecutive boundaries in his first over.

Just after the powerplay, leg-spinner K.C Cariappa put the brakes on Delhi's scoring by dismissing Samson, who holed out one to long-off straight down the throat of Eoin Morgan. The Kerala batsman's 18-ball effort comprised two boundaries and a six.

In the next over, Aaron dealt another jolt to the hosts with the wicket of Karun Nair (0), whose poor run with the willow continued.

Playing his first match of the season, Shreyas Iyer (22) joined Billings in the middle and the duo batted sensibly, occasionally dabbing the ball to the boundary, to raise 41 runs for the third wicket.

Iyer, who consumed 17 balls and struck three boundaries, looked good for a big innings before attempting to loft a good length ball from Mohit Sharma landed at the hands of Morgan at long-on. The next ball saw Billings complete his second IPL fifty with a deaf touch for a single. The 40-ball effort contained nine hits to the fence.

The Englishman, however, failed to carry on and was back in the dug out after mistiming one from left-arm spinner Axar Patel in the very next over.

His departure as Delhi found themselves struggling at 103/4 by the end of the 13th over.

With seven overs left,the stage was set for the in-form Rishabh Pant (15) and New Zealander Corey Anderson (39 not out) to step up the gas, but Aaron's bouncer cut short Pant's 9-ball effort, laced with three fours.

South African all-rounder Chris Morris struck an 8-ball 16 to help Delhi cross the 150-run mark before Sandeep induced him to pull a short ball only to find Mohit's safe hands at the square leg boundary.

Anderson then added the late surge, sending Patel to the cleaners for two consecutive sixes as the 19th over yielded 16 runs before pacer Pat Cummins (12 not out) joined the party in the final over, fetching 19 runs. Despite taking two wickets, Aaron was quite wayward in his line and length, leaking four wides and a no ball in his four overs which cost 45 runs.

Brief Scores: Delhi Daredevils 188/6 (Sam Billings 55, Corey Anderson 39 not out, Shreyas 22, Varun Aaron 2/45) vs Kings XI Punjab.

--IANS

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