Though dashing batsman Virender Sehwag was out of colour in Australia during the one-day series, he did not let that affect him psychologically.
Opener hits 35-ball 100 in the semis and follows it up with 83 off 36 balls
NAVI MUMBAI: Though dashing batsman Virender Sehwag was out of colour in Australia during the one-day series, he did not let that affect him psychologically. It was a treat to watch the Delhi dasher in the DY Patil Twenty 20 Tournament who let the bygones be bygones and scored a quickfire 35-ball hundred in the semifinals followed by another breezy 83 off 36 balls in the final.
When there was another century in sight, Sehwag was run out on 83. However, his knock of 83 was in vain as ONGC lost to Air India, Delhi in the title round played under the lights at the DY Patil Stadium, Nerul on Tuesday.
It is very rare that 20,000 spectators watch an all India invitational tournament in Mumbai, but this was different. And Sehwag did not let his fans’ hopes down and gave them every chance to enjoy the game. The 29-year-old was at his devastating best in the semifinal where he butchered the Bharat Petroleum bowlers - hitting eight sixes and eleven boundaries all around the park. Chasing a target of 179, the ONGC reached the target in 16.1 overs.
Sehwag looked confident from the word go. Mumbai seamer playing for BPCL was at the receiving end in front of Sehwag’s ire. He was hammered for 30 runs in the third over with Sehwag hitting two sixes and three boundaries. The Delhi opener also was effective with his off spinners as he took three wickets conceding 24 runs from four overs.
Sehwag started from the very first ball smacking fast bowler Devendra Sharma of Air India for a six. The seamer was punished for 26 runs in the same over with two sixes and three fours. He continued to entertain the crowd with his fiery display of batting hitting more than couple of balls in to the stands. The opener reached his half century in just 22 balls with five hits over the top.
Scores: Semifinal: BPCL 178/6 in 20 overs (Abhishek Nayar 83 (48b, 12x4, 1x6), Vinayak Mane 40 (24b, 2x4, 2x6), Uday Kaul 32; Virendra Sehwag 3/24). ONGC 179/5 in 16.1 overs (Virender Sehwag 100 (35b, 11x4, 8x6), Gagan Khoda 45 (39b, 6x4); Kiran Adhav 3/25, Swapnil Hazare 2/31). ONGC won by 5 wickets. Final: Air India (Delhi) 189/6 (Rohit Prakash 59, M. Bisla 46). ONGC 181 19.5 ovs (Virender Sehwag 83). Air India won by 8 runs.
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