Stanlake, Chahal strangle Delhi to complete narrow win

Debutant seamer Billy Stanlake and Yuzvendra Chahal joined forces to successfully defend a meagre 157-run total against Delhi in the Indian twenty 20 competition at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore on Saturday.

Shane Watson, Bangalore stand-in captain, won the toss and opted to bat first on a surface traditionally known for aiding batsmen. The ploy backfired as Delhi's bowlers troubled a strong Bangalore batting unit, who managed just 157 in their 20 overs. Kedar Jadhav top-scored with a 37-ball 69, which included five fours and five sixes.

Bangalore's bowlers were faced an uphill task from the onset, but Stanlake - having impressed with his pace in the Big Bash League for Adelaide Strikers recently - continued his fiery display on a slippery Bangalore surface. Stanlake and Chahal took the new ball and conceded 32 runs from the first four overs. Karun Nair was Stanlake's first victim of the day. The seamer breached his defence with a length delivery that moved away in the sixth over. He then produced a chest-high short ball that rushed Sanju Samson into top-edging a pull to Stuart Binny at long-on in the 11th over.

While Stanlake took the wickets, Chahal was at his stingy best, denying Delhi easy runs. He conceded just four in his first over, nine in his second, four in his third and one in his final over, in which he accounted for the hard-hitting Carlos Brathwaite. Chahal, with an economy rate of 4.75, ended with figures of 1 for 19, while Stanlake, with an economy rate of 7.25, claimed figures of 2 for 29. Bangalore won the encounter by 15 runs.