Pune beat Delhi by 19 runs under D/L method

VISAKHAPATNAM: Adam Zampa and Ashok Dinda shone with the ball by grabbing three wickets apiece before Ajinkya Rahane hit an unbeaten 42 as Rising Pune Supergiants beat Delhi Daredevils by 19 runs under Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-interrupted IPL match here on Tuesday. Leg-spinner Zampa (3/21) and pacer Dinda (3/20) led a disciplined bowling display for Pune to restrict the Daredevils to a meagre 121 for 6 and later opener Rahane led the batting charge with 42 not out as the “home” side won the match by 19 runs under D/L method. Rahane hit five fours and a six in his 36-ball knock to anchor the innings as Pune reached 76 for one in 11 overs before the umpires called off play after second rain interruption at the ACAVDCA Cricket Stadium. At the first rain interruption, Pune were 57 for 1 in 8.2 overs with Rahane on 26 and George Bailey on 6. They returned after a rain break of around an hour and they were to get their full quota of 20 overs. But rain came back again after playing another two overs and four deliveries. Rahane and Bailey added 19 runs  in those 16 deliveries. Rahane added 16 runs for himself as he hit a four and a six off Mohammed Shami tinued persistently, the match was called off after a wait of around 15 minutes with Pune ahead of the par score of 57 by 19 runs. The win did not change anything for Pune, apart from the addition of two more points to their earlier six, except that they are now in the seventh spot ahead of Kings XI Punjab. For Daredevils, the loss will make it more difficult for them to book a play-offs berth as they remained at sixth spot with 12 points from 12 matches. They will now need to win both their remaining matches — against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Pune made a brisk start in their run chase and reached 30 for no loss at the end of the third over with Khawaja (19) hitting four boundaries in his 13-ball knock before he sliced straight to backward point fielder Shreyas Iyer in the fourth over. (PTI)