April 19, 2008
Gambhir, Dhawan Steer Delhi Daredevils
to Easy Win By Avishek Roy
New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) Gautam Gambhir and Shikhar Dhawan struck
half-centuries as Delhi Daredevils scored an emphatic nine-wicket
victory over Rajasthan Royals in their first match of the Indian
Premier League here Saturday night.
After restricting Royals to a paltry 129, the Daredevils reached the
target effortlessly at a packed, floodlit Ferozshah Kotla Stadium.
The match started with a breathtaking stunt by Bollywood actor
Akshay Kumar, brand partner of the team. The crowd was still
trickling in when Akshay performed a daredevil stunt amidst
fireworks to welcome the IPL bandwagon at the historic ground.
GMR group, owner of the Daredevils team, had promised an innovative
and different opening and Akshay's performance certainly was a
winner.
As the crowd almost filled the 40,000-capacity spruced up ground,
the roars got deafening and so was the anticipation of a high-octane
Twenty20 game - quite like the extraordinary beginning given by
Brendon McCullum in Bangalore Friday evening.
The atmosphere was electric, but the Rajasthan Royals faded out in
comparison to the two other teams -- Knight Riders and Super Kings
-- who batted first and produced 200-plus scores in the first two
IPL matches.
Ravindra Jadeja (29) and the little-known Dinesh Salunkhe (26 not
out) saw to it that Royals put up a decent score of 129 runs for
eight wickets.
Glenn McGrath (4-21) might be out of action for a year but he
certainly did not look like one. The 'Pigeon' was sharp as usual and
meant business right from the first ball of the innings after
visitors Rajasthan Royals elected to bat first.
Rajat Bhatia was the pick of the Delhi bowlers, claiming four
wickets for 17 runs. McGrath was right up with his nagging off-stump
line and made the batsmen's task difficult.
Young Turuwar Kohli was clueless in the very first over as McGrath
operated with élan.
Kohli finally gave his wicket to McGrath caught by Mithun Manhas.
Thereafter it was a procession of wickets as the crowd sat quietly
praying for somebody to fire. Yousuf Pathan and Shane Watson threw
their wickets as both fell short of their ground while trying to
steal a single.
Mohammad Kaif tried to free his arm, but ended up giving Bhatia his
first wicket. Left handed Ravindra Jadeja brought some cheers with a
couple of big hits. He hit two fours and two sixes before Daniel
Vettori rattled his stumps.
Salunkhe coming in late down the order hit four boundaries to take
the score beyond 100.
Chasing the target, the spectators were looking for captain Virender
Sehwag to provide some fireworks. The swashbuckling opener hit three
boundaries before Shane Watson hit his timber.
That was the only wicket to fall for the home team as India's
Twenty20 World Cup hero Gautam Gambhir (58) and Shikhar Dhawan (52)
struck crisp half-centuries to take Delhi home.
Both the left-handers looked elegant as they hit an array of shots.
Gambhir was severe on anything short and entertained the crowd with
eight boundaries and one six. Dhawan, who had been in fine form this
domestic season, was equally impressive and spanked the bad
deliveries to all parts of the ground as Daredevils reached the
target in 15.1 overs.
Though his side looked ordinary, the loudest cheers of the crowd
were reserved for magician Shane Warne.
Scoreboard
Rajasthan Royals:
Tawuwar Kohli c Manhas b McGrath 7
Yousuf Pathan run out (Manhas/Geeves) 10
Shane Watson run out (Dhawan/Bhatia) 21
Mohammed Kaif c Geeves b Bhatia 9
Darren Lehmann lbw b Maharoof 1
Ravindra Jadeja b Vettori 29
Mahesg Rawat b Bhatia 2
Dinesh Salunkhe not out 26
Shane Warne b Maharoof 14
Sidharth Trivedi not out 3
Extras: (b 1, lb 3, w 3) 7
Total: (for 8 wickets in 20 overs) 129
Delhi Daredevils:
Virender Sehwag b Watson 12
Gautam Gambhir not out 58
Shikhar Dhawan not out 52
Extras: (w 10) 10
Total: (for 1 wicket in 15.1 overs) 132
Result: Delhi Daredevils won by nine wickets
Man of the Match: Farveez Maharoof (Delhi Daredevils)
Toss: Rajasthan Royals, chose to bat
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and G.A. Pratapkumar (India)
TV umpire: Ian Howell (South Africa)
Match referee: Gundappa Viswanath (India)
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