A Match for Pride?

71st match: Pune Warriors v Delhi Daredevils at Pune - May 19, 2013

Pune Warriors 172/5 (20/20 ov); Delhi Daredevils 134/9 (20/20 ov)

Pune Warriors won by 38 runs

It was a match of no consequence in IPL 6. And a match of no consequence becomes a match played for pride. So was this match. Pride of PW prevailed over pride of DD. Interestingly DD started losing the plot from last two balls of their ace bowler Morne Morkel's spell and lost it in the next over by Umesh Yadav, the 19th of the innings, conceding 24 runs. PW didn't score much in the next over, the last of the innings, towards session manipulation.

DD started their chase with pride, but early in the 3rd over their ace batsman Warner decided that too much pride was not good for them and lost his wicket. Their captain first tried to get run out, then stumped off the next ball he faced. On his failure, he got frustrated and offered a lolly-pop of a catch off the next ball, a widish one outside the off stump. A critical viewing of the shot will make one understand whether he got out or played the shot for the purpose of getting out.

By the end of the 8th over, DD had totally surrendered their pride, Sehwag failing yet again, leaving the punters having backed them stranded. Whatever hopes of a fight back could be there got evaporated just after the 2nd strategic time out.