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Rain stops play at the Kotla

Vijay Lokapally

Sehwag on the rampage with a flurry of sixes

— Photo: S. Subramanium

GOING GREAT GUNS: Delhi Daredevils’ captain Virender Sehwag was at his rollicking best carting the Kings XI bowlers all over the park.

NEW DELHI: Delhi Daredevils was 94 for one when rain stopped play in the DLF-Indian Premier League match against Kings XI Punjab at the Kotla here on Saturday.

Delhi needed a start and the openers provided it in style. Sehwag and Gambhir gave the innings a rollicking pace even though they struggled to time the ball initially. The onus was on playing the shots and mostly taking the aerial route. Some wayward bowling by the Kings XI bowlers made their task easier and allowed the openers to settle down.

There were more edges than meat-of-the-bat shots but Gambhir and Sehwag maintained their relentless assault. Gambhir was the pick of the two as he gave direction to his shots by hitting the ball with power. Sehwag was not to be left behind and the two set up a delightful competition between themselves.

Superb square-cuts

Gambhir was not to be shackled and played three forceful square-cuts off Pathan that left the field in a trance. He did not spare Sreesanth and V.R.V. Singh as he plundered runs. But he fell to a beauty from off-spinner Ramesh Powar who curled one past his bat as Gambhir looked to drive the ball to the onside. His 40 was made off 27 balls with seven fours.

Inspired by Gambhir’s strokeplay, Sehwag took over to belt the bowlers with utter contempt that marks his presence at the crease.

He did not impress in the formative stage of the innings.

Having slashed Sreesanth for a six over point, he tried to repeat the shot only to sky the ball, but Yuvraj Singh grassed the chance at covers. It was a costly error.

Sehwag cut loose and off-drove V.R.V. Singh for a six and then repeated the shot for the maximum over point.

He greeted Piyush Chawla with two mighty shots that landed in the stands at midwicket.

The crowd just loved it, so did Sehwag.

But rain lashed the Kotla to stop play with Sehwag on 47 off 19 balls with five sixes and two fours.

The scores:

Delhi Daredevils: G. Gambhir b Powar 40, V. Sehwag (batting) 47, S. Dhawan (batting) 1, Extras (w-6): 6; Total (for one wkt. in 8.1 overs): 94.

Fall of wicket: 1-75.

Kings XI Punjab bowling: Sreesanth 3-0-33-0, Pathan 2-0-13-0, V.R.V. Singh 1-0-22-0, Powar 1.1-0-13-1, Chawla 1-0-13-0.

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