Rampaging Karthik conquers RR

Karthik explodes as Delhi Daredevils conquer Rajasthan Royals

Match Report: Match-29: Delhi Daredevils vs Rajasthan Royals at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, New Delhi, 31st March, 2010

New Delhi, March 31: Pocket dynamo Dinesh Karthik blasted an explosive 38-ball 69 (6x4, 4x6) to power hosts Delhi Daredevils to a massive 67-run win over the Rajasthan Royals in Match 29 of the IPL 2010 at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium here today.

Delhi Daredevils, who posted their highest score against Rajasthan Royals by making 188/6, recorded their third win on the trot. They jumped to the second spot behind table toppers Mumbai Indians (12 points from 7 matches). Delhi Daredevils have now five wins and three losses from eight matches. Rajasthan Royals’ fairytale run was halted and they suffered their fourth defeat. The Shane Warne-led team has four victories from eight matches. They are lodged at fourth position below Royal Challengers. It was two out of two for Delhi Daredevils who had demolished Rajasthan Royals at home in the first match.

Recovering from 50/3, the brilliant Karthik took the wind out of Rajasthan Royals’ sail as he went berserk to wrest the initiative back for Delhi Daredevils. Later on, leg spinner Amit Mishra (3/25) spun a web around Rajasthan Royals, who were bundled out for 121 in 17.4 overs.

Electing to bat, Delhi Daredevils had a horrendous start. The diminutive left-hander David Warner, the last match’s centurion against Kolkata Knight Riders, did not have a good ride today. He was dropped by Siddarath Trivedi at mid-on in the very second over. The unlucky bowler was Sumit Narwal. But Warner (4) did not capitalize on the missed chance. He was castled by Narwal in the bowler’s next over. Delhi Daredevils were 24/1 in 3.1 overs.

The 27-year-old medium-pacer, who plays for Delhi in Ranji Trophy, was cock-a-hoop when Virender Sehwag (19) hit Narwal’s well-directed bouncer straight into square-leg fielder’s hands in the same over. England all-rounder Paul Collingwood (16) was run out, thanks to a brilliant piece of fielding by Voges from covers. Warne dismissed KM Jadhav, who was caught in the deep. In fact, Karthik was walking in after the dismissal of Collingwood but there was change of plans in Delhi Daredevils camp and sent Jadhav ahead of the Indian stumper.

However, Karthik came back at the dismissal of Jadhav to steal the night honours. Karthik and skipper Gautam Gambhir (42 off 37 balls) then resurrected Delhi Daredevils innings with a 79-run stand for the fourth wicket in 8.2 overs. The left-handed Gambhir, who had been suffering from a hamstring injury, became Narwal’s third victim. Gambhir hit Narwal straight into Yusuf Pathan’s hands at deep mid-on. But Delhi Daredevils blasted 67 runs in the last five overs, courtesy Karthik.

Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait went for 53 runs but Narwal did a fine job as he took 3/36 while Warne had 1/26.

Lankan swing bowler Favreez Maharoof struck a double blow in the first over. He sent back Rajasthan Royals opener Michael Lumb for a nought and it became 1 for 2 with Faiz Fazal being trapped in the front. Naman Ojha was out for 14-ball 27 and Abhishek Jhunjhunwala was run out. Rajasthan Royals clawed back into the match through the fifth wicket pair of Voges and Yusuf Pathan. But the little Mishra, who removed Ojha, got the big scalp of Pathan, who holed out to long on and Rajasthan Royals were in serious trouble at 66/5 in 8.2 overs. Mishra bagged his third wicket by dismissing Voges for 15. It was curtains for Rajasthan Royals who collapsed like a pack of cards.