IPL: Top 5 man of the match performances in a losing cause

#2 Chris Morris

Chris Morris has been excellent with both bat and ball for the Delhi Daredevils

Chris Morris in 2016 featured in the Delhi Daredevils squad who were to go up against formidable opponents in the Gujarat Lions. The boys from Gujarat were in red-hot form, having recently chased down the 180 runs amassed by the Royal Challengers Bangalore thanks to a Virat Kohli special.

Gujarat Lions walked in clear favourites against the team from Delhi and did finally end up on top, but the then 28-year-old Morris delivered a Herculean all-round effort that single-handedly helped his team almost pull off victory from the jaws of defeat.

It was IPL at its very best. The Gujarat Lions batted first and were off to a blistering start notching up a hundred runs in a mere nine overs thanks to openers Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith. McCullum scored the fastest half-century ever for the Lions, only to be usurped by Smith a few balls later.

The Gujarat Lions were well on their way to 200 at the very least but a magnificent 12th over by Chris Morris sparked a turnaround for the Daredevils. His clever off-cutter crashed into McCullum's stumps to send him back to the pavilion with 60 runs in 36 balls. Morris then bagged the crucial wicket of skipper Suresh Raina in quick succession. Gujarat Lions self destructed and could manage just 55 runs of the next 48 balls to end the innings with a 172 runs on the board.

What seemed like a one-sided affair after 10 overs was now more of a match. However, it looked to be one-sided in Gujarat's favor again after the Daredevils slumped to 16 for 3 in 4 overs, much to the despair of the home supporters.

Chris Morris walked in to the crease when the scorecard read 57-4 in 10.4 overs, Delhi needing 116 runs in 52 balls for the win. Despite launching his second ball majestically into the second tier of the stands, there was not much hope.

However, what followed was incredible. Morris walloped a 17-ball fifty, the third-fastest in the history of the IPL. Mistiming was not in his dictionary that day as he got under the ball and sent 8 balls flying into the stands. All of a sudden, the Delhi Daredevils needed just 18 runs in the last 2 overs. The way Morris was going, it looked like he would finish the game in 3 balls.

Then, enter Praveen Kumar and Dwayne Bravo. The Indian swing bowler bowled an outrageously good penultimate over conceding just 4 runs, swinging the game back in Gujarat's favour.

Still, 14 runs of the last over was doable considering the South African who was on strike had smashed 71 runs of 27 balls. It boiled down to the last ball of the game, with a boundary needed for the win.

Bravo then bowled an excellent yorker and Morris could only send it to Jadeja at long-on to pick up two runs to finish a humdinger of an innings with 82 runs of 32 balls. Morris and Delhi agonizingly fell just one run short, and all that Morris magic was in vain.

Morris deservedly got the man of the match award, but it was the boys from Gujarat who left the field with smiles on their faces.