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Mishra does the trick for Daredevils

Vijay Lokapally

Delhi team ends losing streak, stays afloat in the IPL

— Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

HOLDING CENTRESTAGE: Delhi Daredevils’ Amit Mishra is the toast of his mates after his superb spell against Deccan Chargers.

NEW DELHI: In a game dominated by batsmen, unsung leg-spinner Amit Mishra picked up five wickets, including a hat-trick in the crucial last over of the match, to keep Delhi Daredevils afloat in the DLF-Indian Premier League. An overflowing Ferozeshah Kotla on Thursday witnessed some splendid innovation in stroke-play as the home bowlers strove to snatch the match from a determined opposition.

The setting was ideal. A run-chase that promised action as Shahid Afridi and Adam Gilchrist walked to the middle and carted the ball around.

Pre-mature end

Afridi was breathtaking as he tore into the attack. Gilchrist’s end was pre-mature. So was Afridi’s, who showed haste in taking on Mishra, whose five-wicket haul helped Delhi Daredevils win by 12 runs.

Mishra, the ‘Man of the Match’, varied his pace cleverly as he foxed Afridi into spooning a catch and then accounted for Herschelle Gibbs who tried to give him the charge.

As Rohit Sharma produced some silken shots the home team looked worried. But a senseless shot by Rohit swung the match Delhi’s way. Venugopala Rao injected some life with some lusty hitting before becoming Glenn McGrath’s second victim in the penultimate over.

The pitch was a beauty, full of runs, just the kind that makes bowling such an onerous task, especially in a Twenty20 contest. There was no seam and swing movement and the batsmen dictated all the way even though Virender Sehwag was not a party to the run-plunder.

On a day when McGrath was dispatched behind extra-cover and square leg for sixes, entertainment came in all its glory for the spectators. The Ferozeshah Kotla was transformed into a wonderful stage for some breathtaking strokeplay as shots, traditional and innovative were executed.

Gautam Gambhir and Shikhar Dhawan set the tempo with a second wicket stand of 133 runs after Sehwag departed in the first over of the match. Gambhir’s 79 off 48 balls with seven fours and three sixes laid the foundation for Delhi to post a challenging target.

His partner Dhawan, who hit 68 off 52 balls with eight fours, matched him all the way.

Gambhir played some vintage shots and Dhawan matched him with a flurry of strokes in the front.

Gambhir innovated and treated the bowlers with contempt and raced to a fifty that should rank among the best in the competition.

Gambhir looked set for a century when he was stumped off a wide ball in a pre-determined slog but Dhawan remained unbeaten. Sri Lankan M. Maharoof played a cameo (19) with two big sixes. The lovely batting track meant Delhi had to compile a competitive total for Deccan Chargers in a match the home team had to win to stay in the hunt.

The scores: Delhi Daredevils: G. Gambhir st. Gilchrist b Ojha 79, V. Sehwag c R.P. Singh b Vijaykumar 0, S. Dhawan (not out) 68, F. Mahroof c Rohit b Ojha 19, T. Dilshan (run out) 16, Manoj Tiwary (not out) 4; Extras (lb-3, w-5): 8; Total (for four wkts. in 20 overs): 194.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-140, 3-166, 4-190.

Deccan Chargers bowling: Vijaykumar 4-0-24-1, R.P. Singh 4-0-50-0, Sarvesh 3-0-24-0, Styris 4-0-33-0, Venugopala Rao 2-0-23-0, Afridi 1-0-18-0, Ojha 2-0-19-2.

Deccan Chargers: A. Gilchrist c Dilshan b McGrath 14, S. Afridi c (sub) de Villiers b Mishra 33, H. Gibbs b Mishra 22, Rohit b Maharoof 35, S. Styris c (sub) de Villiers b Maharoof 29, Venugopala Rao c (sub) Malik b McGrath 34, Ravi Teja c (sub) Malik b Mishra 9, R.P. Singh st. Karthik b Mishra 1, P. Ojha c Dilshan b Mishra 0, P. Vijaykumar (not out) 1, P.M. Sarvesh Kumar (not out) 1; Extras (b-1, w-2): 3; Total (for nine wkts. in 20 overs): 182.

Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-71, 3-75, 4-114, 5-154, 6-171, 7-180, 8-180, 9-180.

Delhi Daredevils bowling: McGrath 4-0-42-2, Asif 4-0-51-0, Maharoof 4-0-39-2, Mishra 4-0-17-5, Bhatia 4-0-32-0.

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