IPL 9: Delhi Daredevils roar at home

New Delhi: Playing his 100th IPL game, leg-spinner Amit Mishra bamboozled Kings XI Punjab batsmen into handing him a four-wicket haul at the Kotla here on Friday. Varying line and length and using the full repertoire a leggie can bring to the table — leg-spinners, top-spinners, googlies et al — Mishra single-handedly winkled out the Kings XI top order, the visitors managing a mere 111/9 after being asked to bat first.

In reply, Delhi played patiently, reaching 79 for 1 in 11 overs when this edition was put to bed. Quinton de Kock (37 not out) and Kerala lad Sanju Samson (29 not out) were at the crease for the Daredevils.

The 33-year-old Mishra continues to baffle, tease and torment batsmen in all forms of the game. In him, Delhi Daredevils may have made one of the buys of this season, and how well he rewarded that faith at the Kotla.

After Murali Vijay was run out in a terrible mixup off a dropped catch with Manan Vohra, Mishra slalomed through the Kings XI lineup. He took out Shaun Marsh, David Miller, Glenn Maxwell and then almost inevitably, innings top-scorer Vohra too, all with different deliveries.

Mishra’s figures after that spell read 3-0-11-4, and he had even then, with nine overs to go, all but sealed the direction of this game. Surprisingly, he was not allowed to complete his quota of four, the faster bowlers doing the job thereafter.

After the disappointment of the season opener at the Eden Gardens, it was an altogether better display by the Daredevils. Zaheer Khan was much more hands-on as a leader -- other than the call not to finish Mishra's quota -- and turned in a fine display with the ball as well. And as a unit, his team responded with a disciplined display with the ball and in the field.

Only Vohra (32, 24b, 4x4) made it past the 20 mark for Punjab, who managed just 11 boundaries and two sixes, further tribute to Delhi’s shape and determination. and With just a wicket in hand, Punjab just about managed to hang on for the full 20 overs.