IPL 2018: Shreyas Iyer rues not getting Shane Watson out LBW on the first delivery

After surviving the close LBW, Watson went berserk and scored a glorious 40-ball 78.

Shane Watson was in full flow against the Delhi Daredevils | IANS

The 30th match of IPL 2018 between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils on Monday (April 30) kick-started with a drama as CSK opener Shane Watson survived a close LBW call off Trent Boult’s bowling.

The on-field umpire adjudged it not out which prompted Delhi to take the review. Even though the ball had pitched in line and was hitting the stumps, the third umpire gave it not out because of the uncertainty whether there was a faint inside edge before the ball struck the pad.

After surviving the close call, Watson went berserk and scored a glorious 40-ball 78 (4 fours and 7 sixes) that helped CSK to post a massive total of 211/4 on the board.

Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, DD skipper Shreyas Iyer said: “Too many runs on the board. I would like to complain about the first ball wicket. It did not go our way and that could have made a massive impact in the match.”

“The way Watson started it totally changed the game. Not only me, the whole dressing room and obviously you also think the same - that ball hit the pad first and then the bat,” he added.

Chasing the target, DD needed a solid platform but KM Asif demolished their hope with a double strike up front. Delhi lost their first 4 batsmen for just 74 runs. Although Rishabh Pant (79 off 45 balls) and Vijay Shankar (54* off 31 balls) put on 88-run partnership for the fifth wicket, they were always playing the catching up role. CSK eventually restricted DD to 198/5 and went to the top of the points table with 6 wins in 8 matches.

“We got really close and it is a positive going into the next match. We need to win 6 in the remaining 6 matches and that is the only motivation going forward. We need to point out the mistakes we have done and we will try to bounce back strong. We will be having a meeting with management regarding the team changes. If we try to keep the team stable, we will do well in the upcoming matches,” a disappointed Iyer concluded.

Delhi Daredevils will now take on Rajasthan Royals in their next match on Wednesday (May 3) in Kotla.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 01 May, 2018

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