Delhi win it in style

Delhi: Some power-hitting from Dinesh Karthik and suicidal top-order batting from Rajasthan Royals ensured that the Delhi Daredevils notched their 3rd successive win in a row in IPL 2010. Set a target of 189, the Royals’ reply never really got going and they ended up losing by 67 runs. Farveez Maharoof bagged the wickets of Michael Lumb and Faiz Fazal in the very first over.

Naman Ojha’s 27 gave the away side some much needed momentum, but once Ojha fell trying to up the ante further, it was all doom and gloom in the Royals camp.

If there were a man who could dig the Royals out of this deep ditch, it was Yusuf Pathan. He began in typically thundering fashion, smashing Sarabjeet Ladda for two sixes in the 7th over.

Royals’ almost extinguished flames of hope suddenly started flickering again, thanks to Pathan’s terrific start. But all that optimism died down the moment David Warner latched onto his 3rd of 4 catches in the match to dismiss Pathan off Amit Mishra.

It was all over right then and there less than 10 overs into the chase as the Royals went through the motions from then on.

Gautam Gambhir’s decision to bat first seemed to have clicked when Virender Sehwag came out all guns blazing. Yusuf Pathan was greeted with a 6 and a 4 in the very first over. And it all looked rosy until Royals pacer Sumit Narwal struck gold in the 4th over.

Both openers David Warner and Virender Sehwag fell to Narwal’s accuracy, which reduced the Daredevils to 25/5.

The Daredevils showed some semblance of recovery with Paul Collingwood and Gautam Gambhir going steady, but a horrific mix up between the pair saw Collingwood being run-out.

The introduction of Dinesh Karthik gave the Daredevils some much needed impetus, and along with Gambhir, Delhi looked like getting back on track.

Narwal struck again to dismiss Delhi skipper Gautam Gambhir for 43. But that only intensified Karthik’s effort – he hit Shaun Tait for three consecutive fours in the 18th over.

The Daredevils vice-captain was in scintillating form, and the Royals bowlers had no answer for his ingenuity. The Royals finally got their man off the last ball of the innings, but Karthik’s 69 off 38 balls was enough for the Daredevils to set a testing target of 189.