By IANS,
Chennai : Skipper Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir put on a century partnership for the first wicket to power Delhi Daredevils to a commanding eight-wicket win against hitherto unbeaten Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament here Fridaynight.
After restricting Chennai Super Kings, who won the toss and decided to bat first, for 169 for six in 20 overs, the Daredevils knocked off the runs in 19 overs after Sehwag (71, 41b, 4 x 6, 7 x 4) and Gautam Gambhir (50, 37b, 1 x 6, 5 x 4) provided them a solid start with a 115-run stand off just 68 balls.
For Super Kings, it was their first loss in five matches while Daredevils chalked up their fourth win. The two teams, along with Rajasthan Royals are tied on eight points after five games apiece.
Sehwag and Gambhir set a hectic pace, smashing the Super Kings attack to all parts of the ground. Manpreet Gony, in particular, came for some heavy punishment, going for 29 runs in his two overs.
Morkel too suffered as the Delhi openers went hammer and tongs. The South African all-rounder was spanked for 24 runs in three overs, including 19 in his third.
The ease with which Sehwag and Gambhir batted, putting on a century partnership, it looked curtains for Super Kings.
The pair took only 4.5 overs to post 50 on the board and reached 100 in the ninth over with Sehwag also completing his half-century off 24 deliveries.
Joginder Sharma, who went for 19 runs in his first over, dismissed Sehwag who attempted another big hit only to be caught by Muralitharan at long on after making 71.
Thereafter, Gambhir went on to reach his second consecutive half-century off 35 balls, but attempting a glide to third man, was bowled by Gony with Daredevils just 31 runs short of victory.
AB de Villiers (26 not out) and Shikhar Dhawan (19 not out), however, safely guided the Daredevils past the winning post.
Earlier, Delhi Daredevils, with a combination of tight bowling and good fielding, pegged Chennai Super Kings to 169 for six.
Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on winning the toss, chose to bat first, but the innings never really blossomed unlike in the previous matches.
The Super Kings were off to a rather unconvincing start against McGrath and Asif, both of whom maintained a length that kept the openers Stephen Fleming and Parthiv Patel on a leash.
Fleming, making his IPL debut, struggled before departing in the eventful third over, bowled by Yo Mahesh. In fact, Fleming was bowled off a no-ball and after striking two boundaries, lost his stumps in the same over.
At the other end, Patel lived dangerously, playing a couple of lofted shots that fell just short of the fielders. He never looked quite the part and fell to Virender Sehwag who struck with his very first delivery, having Patel caught in the deep.
Meanwhile, young Vidyut batted quite competently and in the company of Dhoni, steadied the Super Kings innings that otherwise struggled to gain momentum.
Sehwag’s innocuous off-breaks provided some relief for the Super Kings batsmen who plundered 16 runs off his second over to provide the much-needed acceleration.
The pair added 57 runs in 40 balls with Vidyut completing his maiden T20 half-century, but was out soon after, falling prey to McGrath’s guile, top-edging to Yo Mahesh. McGrath was yet again at his miserly best, conceding just 21 runs in his four overs.
Albie Morkel, promoted ahead of Suresh Raina, kept swishing in a bid for quick runs, but on the day, the Daredevils bowling was almost spot-on.
Both Morkel and Dhoni never really got going, and it was not long before frustration set in. Dhoni departed after making 32, holing out to Malik who held a good, low catch off Asif.
With just 145 runs off 18 overs, Morkel took his chances and clobbered two sixes off Pradeep Sangwan who went for 13 runs, but ran out Suresh Raina in the same over.
Sehwag opted for seamer Rajat Bhatia to bowl the final over. Morkel slammed him for a six, but was out in the penultimate delivery and it was left to S Badrinath to finish off the innings with a six to help Super Kings to post a challenging total.
SCORE-BOARD
Chennai Super Kings innings:
Parthiv Patel c Yo Mahesh b Sehwag 21 (20b, 3 x 4)
Stephen Fleming b Yo Mahesh 13 (13b, 2 x 4)
Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan c Yo Mahesh b McGrath 54 (37b, 7 x 4, 1 x 6)
M S Dhoni c Malik b Asif 32 (27b, 2 x 4, 1 x 6)
Albie Morkel c Sehwag b Bhatia 28 (16b, 3 x 4, 2 x 6)
Suresh Raina (runout – Sangwan) 3 (4b)
S Badrinath (not out) 11 (5b, 1 x 6)
Joginder Sharma (not out) 0 (0b)
Extras (nb-2, w-5): 7
Total (for 6 wkts, 20 overs): 169
Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Fleming, 3.2), 2-65 (8.1, Patel), 3-122 (Vidyut, 14.5), 4- (Dhoni, 18.
Bowling: Glenn McGrath 4-0-21-1; Mohammad Asif 4-0-34-1 (1w); Yo Mahesh 4-0-31-1 (2nb); Pradeep Sangwan 4-0-40-0 (2w); Shoaib Malik 1-0-11-0 (2w); Virender Sehwag 2-0-21-1; Rajat Bhatia 1-0-11-1.
Delhi Daredevils innings:
Gautam Gambhir b Gony 50 (37b, 1 x 6, 5 x 4)
Virender Sehwag c Muralitharan b Sharma 71 (41b, 4 x 6, 7 x 4)
AB de Villiers (not out) 26 (21b, 2 x 4)
Shikar Dhawan (not out) 19 (17b, 2 x 4)
Extras (b-1, lb-1, nb-2, w-2): 6
Total (for 2 wkts, 19 overs): 172
Fall of wickets: 1-115 (Sehwag 11.2), 2-139 (Gambhir, 14.3).
Bowling: Makhaya Ntini 4-0-29-0; Manpreet Gony 4-0-39-1 (1w); Albie Morkel 4-0-40-0 (1w); Joginder Sharma 3-0-35-1 (1w); Muttiah Muralitharan 4-0-27-0 (1nb).