Sam Billings struck 54 off 34 balls on his IPL debut for Delhi Daredevils, a performance which England batting coach Mark Ramprakash hailed as exceptional. Billings has struggled for regular cricket of late, kept out of a high-performing England side that reached the World T20 final, and a Delhi team with overseas talent like Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy and Carlos Brathwaite keeping him on the bench. Its what made Billings performance - in place of the under-the-weather Duminy - in Delhis 27-win over the Kolkata Knight Riders all the more impressive.It was a huge ask for Sam to come in and play as fluently as he did, against a top attack, said Ramprakash ahead Delhis Tuesdays clash with Gujarat Lions. He has the ability, but when you havent played any matches for quite a period of time, it becomes very difficult.Sams great asset is that hes young, fresh, and doesnt really have any fear. He goes out there and gives it a crack - whether he gets out first ball or makes fifty, he is going to enjoy himself come what may.He didnt look rusty at all. Its really pleasing to have English players involved in the tournament, and when they play well - excelling on the world stage - youre very happy about that.There is very healthy competition in the England one-day side, there are a number of batsmen who could play for England, and bat in several different positions.Sam is a very adaptable cricketer, and his innings showed that. He came in in the fifth over, inside the powerplay, so he can play very good orthodox cricket shots, but he also has the improvisation of a Jos Buttler. He really could bat anywhere for England, hes that skilful.Billings came to the crease with Delhi in trouble at 32-3, but put on 105 for the fourth wicket with Karun Nair - who also struck fifty - with his expert play of spin standing out. Kent and England’s Sam Billings was the standout performer on his IPL debut for the Delhi Daredevils. Experienced IPL and international spinners, Sunil Narine, Brad Hogg and Piyush Chawla were taken for 85 runs from the combined nine overs.Thats what makes his innings so impressive, added Ramprakash. His team were in trouble, yet he stayed true to what he is very good at.His play against spin was exceptional - he came down the wicket, attacked Narine, Hogg, but also used the depth of his crease very well and knocked the ball around nicely.Reading Sams body language at the wicket, he looked like he was having great fun, he seems to have a very nice rapport with Nair, there was a lot of smiling and laughing between the two.The Delhi franchise is one that is not particularly fancied, not one of the favourites, and therefore perhaps its allowing the team to go out and just enjoy the competition, enjoy the occasion - that certainly fits for Sam. Sam Billings has found opportunities limited for England so far Although Billings doesnt currently occupy a permanent spot in the England side, further opportunities to display his talent in the IPL could see that change - starting with Delhis game against the Gujarat on Tuesday.The Delhi selectors should be very seriously considering letting him play now, said Ramprakash. He gave some energy to the team and was very assured.Sam understands that he may not play every match, but he is the sort of character that when he does get the opportunity to play, he will back himself.He committed to his shots so well, there was no indecision - thats very important in T20, you need to be very certain in what youre trying to do.There is some very healthy competition among the Delhi overseas players, but Sam has certainly given the selectors something to think about.Watch the Delhi Daredevils take on the Gujarat Lions from 3pm on Sky Sports 3 on Tuesday. 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Mars announced Saturday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will join him as part of his halftime show. Super Bowl halftime performers often have collaborators.PHILADELPHIA -- When David Buchanan walked into the managers office after a rough outing in the minors, he didnt expect to leave a major leaguer. Buchanan sure pitched like he belonged in his debut. The 25-year-old righty threw five effective innings, Chase Utley hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 Saturday. Filling in for injured ace Cliff Lee, Buchanan (1-0) gave the struggling Phillies a lift. He allowed two runs and five hits, striking out two. He was pulled after one inning and four runs in his last start at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. A couple days later, manager Dave Brundage and pitching coach Ray Burris met with him to make sure he was fine. "After 15 minutes, I was walking out when (Brundage) said: Are you going to be ready when Chooch (Carlos Ruiz) calls for a fastball?" Buchanan said. "I stopped and he said it again. I was like, Are you serious?" Buchanan, who grew up a Braves fan in Georgia, had more than 15 family and friends in the crowd, including his parents. "This is what I thought about since I was a kid," he said. "Im overwhelmed with emotions. Its so humbling that so many people took the time out, got plane tickets and were here to see me." Ben Revere went 4 for 4 in his first game leading off since May 14 and Jimmy Rollins drove in two runs to help the Phillies snap a three-game losing streak. Jonathan Papelbon tossed a scoreless ninth for his 13th save in 14 tries. Dodgers starter Dan Haren (5-3) gave up five runs -- two earned -- and six hits, striking out seven in six innings. Buchanan retired the first three batters he faced on grounders before the Phillies gave him a quick lead in the bottom half. One pitch after catcher A.J. Ellis dropped his foul pop, Utley drove one out to right field for a 2-0 lead. Utley ended a homerless drought of 127 at-bats, dating to April 13. "I just missed it," Ellis said. "It was a bad play by me and it cost us the game." Revere started Philadelphias first with his first double since last July 8. One out later, Utley connected. Revere annd Rollins hit consecutive RBI singles with two outs in the second to make it 4-0.dddddddddddd Rollins hit .308 with two homers and had a .438 on-base percentage in eight games batting first, which used to be his spot throughout his career. But manager Ryne Sandberg put Revere back atop the order after benching him a couple games. "To be close to .300 this soon after ankle surgery is pretty impressive," said Revere, who is hitting .289 after missing the second half of last year following an ankle injury. Carl Crawfords RBI groundout in the fourth cut it to 4-1. Dee Gordon hit an RBI single with two outs in the fifth to get the Dodgers within 4-2. Revere reached on an infield single and went to third when Harens throw to first sailed down the right field line. He scored on Rollins groundout to extend the lead to 5-2 in the fifth. Yasiel Puig led off the sixth with a triple off Jake Diekman. Two outs later, he scored on Carlos Ruizs passed ball. Buchanan earned himself another start while Lee is sidelined. Lee has an elbow strain and its uncertain whether hell be ready when hes eligible to come off the DL. "Its an outing he can build on as we need him," Sandberg said. NOTES: Ruiz hit a foul ball that landed in a vendors bin that he was carrying over his head while walking up steps in the right field stands. Fans cheered the unsuspecting vendor, who gave the ball to a young boy. ... Buchanan is the first player from Georgia State to play in the majors. .... Phillies LF Domonic Brown left with mid-back spasms. Hes day to day. ... Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez was a late scratch because of a sore left calf. ... Phillies 3B Cody Asche is day to day with a left hamstring injury. ... The Phillies placed RHP Luis Garcia on the 15-day disabled list because of a right forearm strain. Buchanan took his roster spot. Garcia had a 15.75 ERA in three appearances. ... Haren struck out the side on 11 pitches in the third. ... The Phillies are 12-3 on weekends, 9-22 the other five days. ... A.J. Burnett (3-3) faces Josh Beckett (2-1) in the series finale Sunday afternoon. ' ' '