PANT, SHARMA HELP DD POST 181/4

Delhi Daredevils rode some power packed batting by Rishabh Pant and talented teenager Abhishek Sharma to post a challenging total of 181/4 in their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) here on Saturday. Pant plundered 61 runs off 34 balls to help Delhi overcome some early hiccups. The 17-year-old Sharma gave the finishing touches to the innings, smashing his way to 46 runs off just 19 balls to give the hosts a very good chance to clinch the fourth win of a rather forgettable campaign. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was the most successful among the RCB bowlers with figures of 2/28. Delhi suffered their first blow in the opening over itself when opener Prithvi Shaw was bowled while attempting a rather languid shot off Chahal›s bowling. Pant played a major role in boosting the run rate. His power packed knock included five hits to the fence and four towering sixes. Off-spinner Moeen Ali finally brought the rampage to an end when Pant attempted another big hit, only to be caught by AB de Villiers near the boundary rope wide of long-on.