Glenn McGrath marks his return with two wickets as the Delhi side beat Wayamba XI by 50 runs.
Having seen the Feroz Shah Kotla pitch make batsmen struggle for strokes in three previous matches, Virender Sehwag and Dinesh Karthik knew that loose balls had to be capitalised on in their do-or-die Group D match of the Champions League.
The attacking Delhi Daredevils pair did what was needed, the task made easier by some wayward bowling by the Mayamba Elevens bowlers. They both completed half-centuries with some lusty hitting that virtually put the opposition out by the halfway stage, the final margin of victory being 50 runs.
Delhi Daredevils had lost their opening match against Victoria Bushrangers, but Sehwag took the onus on himself to set the platform for the home team this time around. The opener struck 10 fours and a six during his 42-ball knock during which he reached the pitch of the ball and was also quick to dispatch the short ones square of the wicket.
Sehwag added 67 for the third wicket with Karthik, who was happy playing second fiddle early on but came on to his own later. Karthik smashed three consecutive sixes on the leg side off wily spinner Ajantha Mendis before being stumped in the same over off a wide delivery. Karthik scored 61 off 41 deliveries with five fours, apart from those three sixes.
Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir won the second straight toss, and unlike in the last game, the team took advantage of batting first on a pitch that does not give freedom to batsmen in a run chase.
The Wayamba reply was thrown off track with some precise bowling, veteran Glenn McGrath marking his return to the side with two quick wickets as the Sri Lankan side fell to 37-5. McGrath removed captain Jehan Mubarak with the first delivery of his second over and then got rid of Kaushal Lokuarachchi off the last ball. Dirk Nannes was the pick of the bowlers with four for 24.
A brilliant catch by Tillekaratne Dilshan, running in from mid off to behind the bowler, not only got rid of Farveez Maharoof, but added more spring to the home side with the win now very much within grasp. Former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene’s half-century came too late in the face of a mounting asking rate.
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