Quinton de Kock smashed the first century of the ongoing IPL season to power Delhi Daredevils to a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore here yesterday.Chasing an imposing 192/6, de Kock blazed his way to 108 off just 51 balls with the help of a whopping 15 boundaries and three sixes.
In the company of young Karun Nair (54 off 42), he added 134 runs off 12.4 overs for the third wicket to help Darvedevils overwhelm the target with five balls to spare.
The Daredevils, though, did not have the best of starts as they lost Shreyas Iyer early, courtesy a brilliant co-ordinated catch between Shane Watson and David Wiese at the long-off boundary off Sreenath Aravind’s final delivery of the first over of the innings.
Sanju Samson, too, did not last long as he offered a regulation catch to Yuzvendra Chahal at midwicket off Watson (2/25) in the sixth over with Daredevils score at 50/2 in 5.4 overs.
But thereafter it was all De Kock and Nair show as the duo took the below-par RCB attack to task. De Kock might have been the architect of Daredevils chase with his brilliant century but credit should also go to young Nair who gave the South African able support. He struck six boundaries and a six to remain unbeaten on 54.
Earlier, Virat Kohli played a captain’s knock with a quickfire 79, while AB de Villers made a brisk 55 before Delhi Daredevils pulled things back a little towards the end to restrict Royal Challengers Bangalore to 191/5.
(Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 181/5 (Kohli 79, De Villiers 55, Shami 2/34); Delhi Daredevils 192/3 (De Kock 108, Nair 54*)