Pant's maiden IPL fifty steers Daredevils home

Gujarat Lions v Delhi Daredevils, IPL 2016, Rajkot
The Dwayne Smith-Brendon McCullum opening partnership failed for the second match in a row as the latter was castled in the third over© BCCI
© BCCIThe Dwayne Smith-Brendon McCullum opening partnership failed for the second match in a row as the latter was castled in the third over
Shahbaz Nadeem's double-strike in the fourth over sent Smith and Aaron Finch packing, leaving Lions on 24 for 3© BCCI
© BCCIShahbaz Nadeem's double-strike in the fourth over sent Smith and Aaron Finch packing, leaving Lions on 24 for 3
Suresh Raina chipped in with 24 and added 51 for the fourth wicket with Dinesh Karthik as the pair tried to rebuild© BCCI
© BCCISuresh Raina chipped in with 24 and added 51 for the fourth wicket with Dinesh Karthik as the pair tried to rebuild
Karthik then added 52 for the fifth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja and reached his half-century off 42 balls© AFP
© AFPKarthik then added 52 for the fifth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja and reached his half-century off 42 balls
Jadeja had a reprieve as Nadeem put down a difficult chance at midwicket when the batsman was on 22© BCCI
© BCCIJadeja had a reprieve as Nadeem put down a difficult chance at midwicket when the batsman was on 22
Karthik fell soon after, for 53, castled by Mohammed Shami. Lions were on 127 for 5 with 15 balls to go© BCCI
© BCCIKarthik fell soon after, for 53, castled by Mohammed Shami. Lions were on 127 for 5 with 15 balls to go
Jadeja applied the finishing touches, and his unbeaten 36 off 26 balls lifted Lions to 149 for 7© BCCI
© BCCIJadeja applied the finishing touches, and his unbeaten 36 off 26 balls lifted Lions to 149 for 7
Daredevils' bowlers hunted in a pack. Zaheer Khan led from the front, picking up 1 for 27 in four overs© BCCI
© BCCIDaredevils' bowlers hunted in a pack. Zaheer Khan led from the front, picking up 1 for 27 in four overs
Daredevils' openers, Quinton de Kock and Rishabh Pant, got the team off to a flyer, blazing away to 115 in 13.3 overs© BCCI
© BCCIDaredevils' openers, Quinton de Kock and Rishabh Pant, got the team off to a flyer, blazing away to 115 in 13.3 overs
Pant, picked in place of Shreyas Iyer, made his chance count and biffed 69 off 40 balls, his maiden fifty in limited-overs cricket© AFP
© AFPPant, picked in place of Shreyas Iyer, made his chance count and biffed 69 off 40 balls, his maiden fifty in limited-overs cricket
Jadeja broke the stand by dismissing Pant and de Kock fell to a slog off Shivil Kaushik with Daredevils 29 away from a win© BCCI
© BCCIJadeja broke the stand by dismissing Pant and de Kock fell to a slog off Shivil Kaushik with Daredevils 29 away from a win
Even with Daredevils just eight away from a win, McCullum was as committed and acrobatic as ever© BCCI
© BCCIEven with Daredevils just eight away from a win, McCullum was as committed and acrobatic as ever
But JP Duminy and Sanju Samson avoided further hiccups, sealing the eight-wicket win in 17.2 overs© BCCI
© BCCIBut JP Duminy and Sanju Samson avoided further hiccups, sealing the eight-wicket win in 17.2 overs

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