On This Day: Delhi Capitals’ Chris Morris scored career-best 82* in cliffhanger vs Gujarat Lions

Delhi Capitals’ Chris Morris scored career-best 82*: Delhi all-rounder had nearly snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat.

On this day in 2016, former Delhi Capitals all-rounder Chris Morris had scored his maiden T20 half-century which till date remains his career-best score in the format.

Coming in to bat at No. 6 in the 11th over, Morris had a daunting task ahead of him as Capitals (then Daredevils) required 116 runs from 56 balls to win the match.

Having played only two deliveries, Morris fancied his chances against Gujarat all-rounder James Faulkner as he hit him for a couple of sixes in the 13th over.

Continuing his assault, the right-hand batsman made things difficult for the opposition bowlers as he hit Dwayne Bravo and Pravin Tambe for three sixes in the next overs.

The presence of well-set batsmen in JP Duminy and Morris meant that Delhi had a chance to score 57 runs in the last five overs to seal the chase. Having hit four sixes in the next overs, Morris reduced the equation to needing 29 runs in three overs in addition to scoring the fastest half-century of IPL 2016.

Despite Delhi already losing their top batsmen, Morris made sure that he dominated the 87-run partnership alongside his South African teammate in Duminy (48).

When Delhi needed 18 runs in two overs, Praveen Kumar and Bravo stood tall on their potential to register an intriguing 1-run victory. Morris’ entertaining innings saw him scoring 82* (32) with the help of four fours and eight sixes. With bowling figures of 4-1-19-3, Gujarat seamer Dhawal Kulkarni was the pick of their bowlers.

After the then Delhi captain Zaheer Khan won the toss and invited the visitors in to bat, his bowlers did well to restrict Lions to 172/6 in 20 overs despite a quickfire 112-run opening stand between Dwayne Smith (53) and Brendon McCullum (60).

Delhi Capitals’ Chris Morris scored career-best 82*

For more cricket-related news, click here.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

Read More