Daredevils snap RCB winning streak

Delhi post 17-run win as Bangalore falls flat

Such is the nature of T20 format that a stand-out innings or an exceptional over can change the course of the game. Chasing a big but an achievable 184, given their track record in this edition, the Royal Challengers needed an innings of supreme quality. Unlike in their previous match against Chennai Super Kings when they found a saviour in marauding Robin Uthappa, albeit while setting the target, there was no one from the home side rising to the occasion on the day as they replied with 166 for nine to hand Daredevils a 17-run win, their first in the last four matches.

Despite the defeat, Anil Kumble’s men will remain at the top of the table with eight points and if Mumbai are to lose their Thursday’s game against Chennai Super Kings they can still maintain their numero uno position.

Jacques Kallis and Manish Pandey (39, 29b, 4x4, 1x6) started the chase in right earnest raising 71 for the opening wicket in 56 balls, but once the combination was separated, Challengers failed to sustain the momentum. Uthappa, who walked in to a rapturous welcome by the capacity crowd, flickered briefly while Rahul Dravid needlessly ran himself out. Eoin Morgan and Virat Kohli (38, 23b, 4x4, 1x6) put up a brief resistance, which ended in another run out.

In fact, run-outs appeared to be the feature of the day as R Vinay Kumar too departed the same way. In between Mark Boucher had found an obliging Virender Sehwag at mid-wicket effectively ending the Challengers’ chase. The defeat also meant that the Challengers suffered their maiden defeat at their home ground and only their second after the loss in the opening match.    

Daredevils, invited to bat first, got off to a dream start with David Warner making his intentions clear right from the ball one. The diminutive left-hander took 13 runs off Praveen Kumar’s opening over and then clobbered Dale Steyn for 16 in the next as runs came thick and fast.

In no time Warner and Sehwag, a lot subdued as his partner went berserk, raised 50 and the six overs of Power Play yielded 64. Though both Warner and Sehwag, who was winkled out by Vinay off his first ball, departed in quick succession after giving a head start to the innings, AB de Villiers (45, 35b, 3x4) propelled the innings along in the company of a sedate Kaarthick.

Looking the part

Looking the part for the first time in the tournament, the South African raised 43 runs for the third wicket to keep the momentum going for the visitors before a brilliant pick-and throw from mid-on caught him short of crease and ended a fruitful stint.

At 134 for three in the 16th over, Daredevils score wasn’t anywhere near intimidating when IPL debutant Kedar Jadhav exploded in stunning fashion. The Maharashtra batsman, who was part of the Challengers’ squad in the second edition but didn’t travel to South Africa, struck an unbeaten 50 (29b, 5x4, 2x6) and along with Andrew McDonald, coming in place of Tillakaratne Dilshan, carted the home bowlers around for 49 off just 23 balls as Daredevils innings motored along at a frenetic speed to which the Challengers couldn’t keep up the pace.

Score Board

DELHI DAREDEVILS: David Warner c Vinay b Steyn 33 (13b, 3x4, 2x6), Virender Sehwag c Kohli b Vinay 12 (11b, 2x4), AB de Villiers (run out) 45 (35b, 3x4), Dinesh Kaarthick (run out) 17 (19b, 1x4), Kedar Jadhav (not out) 50 (29b, 5x4, 2x6), Andrew McDonald (not out) 18 (12b, 1x4). Extras (LB-1, W-1) 8. Total (for 4 wkts, 20 overs) 183.
Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Warner), 2-58 (Sehwag), 3-101 (Kaarthick), 4-134 (de Villiers). 
Bowling: Praveen Kumar 4-0-45-0 (w-3), Dale Steyn 4-0-42-1 (w-2), Jacques Kallis 4-0-36-0 (w-1), Vinay Kumar 4-0-29-1 (w-1), Anil Kumble 4-0-30-0.
Scoring pattern: After 5 overs: 58/1; 10: 95/2; 15: 128/3; End of innings: 183/4 in 20 overs.
Runs during Power Play: 1-6 overs: 64/2.

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE: Manish Pandey b McDoland 39 (29b, 4x4, 1x6), Jacques Kallis b Mishra 27 (29b, 3x4), Robin Uthappa c Kaarthick b Mishra 15 (10b, 1x4, 1x6), Rahul Dravid (run out) 1 (1b), Eoin Morgan (run out) 17 (13b, 2x4), Virat Kohli (not out) 38 (23b, 4x4, 1x6), Mark Boucher c Sehwag b Sangwan 2 (3b), Vinay Kumar (run out) 2 (2b), Praveen Kumar c De Villiers b Yadav 0 (1b), Dale Steyn b McDonald 8 (9b, 1x4), Anil Kumble (not out) 1 (1b). Extras (LB-11, W-4, NB-1) 16. Total (for 9 wkts, 20 overs) 166.

Fall of wickets: 1-71 (Kallis), 2-85 (Pandey), 3-86 (Dravid), 4-90 (Uthappa), 5- 120 (Morgan), 6-123 (Boucher), 7-135 (Vinay), 8-137 (Praveen), 9-165 (Steyn).
Bowling: Dirk Nannes 4-0-31-1, Umesh Yadav 4-0-27-1 (nb-1), Pradeep Sangwan 4-0-32-1 (w-4), Amit Mishra 4-0-23-2, Andrew McDonald 4-0-42-2. 
Scoring pattern: After 5 overs: 37/0; 10: 78/1; 15: 121/4; End of Innings: 166/4 in 20 overs. 
Runs during Power Play: 1-6 overs: 46/0.