JOIN USGutsy Chargers reach semifinals
Deccan Chargers defended a modest total of 145 for seven, built around Andrew Symonds’ breezy 54, and then shut the semifinal door on Delhi at Ferozeshah Kotla stadium.
The visiting bowlers bowled a tight line and length to restrict Delhi to 134 for seven. Deccan fielding though was patchy with a mix of some outstanding effort and a few dropped catches. Paul Collingwood (51), who was dropped twice when on 36 and 42, and Ashish Nehra (22 not out) raised hopes of a stunning win by some smart batting, also helped by dropped catches by their rivals, but Chaminda Vaas bowled a superb last over for Deccan.
At one stage, Delhi were 86 for seven but Collingwood and Nehra rattled up a 48-run partnership for the unfinished eighth wicket to get the hosts closer to the target. Delhi needed 16 runs off the last over but Vaas gave away just five runs, not conceding a single boundary, as Deccan recorded their fifth win a row.
Pragyan Ojha bowled exceptionally well for Deccan taking two wickets and conceding just 16 runs from his four overs. Harmeet Singh also took two wickets while Vaas and Mitchell Marsh scalped one each. With the win today, Deccan finished second on league table with 16 points from 14 matches.
After the match, the semifinal line-up has almost been drawn. Table toppers Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have already made it to the semifinals. Bangalore Royal Challengers would virtually be the fourth side in the semifinal line-up, save for a big win by Kolkata Knight Riders at home against Mumbai Indians on Monday. For KKR to make it to the semifinals, their win against Mumbai tomorrow should be so big to take their current net run rate of minus 0.456 past Bangalore’s plus 0.219. Delhi made a poor start in their chase of 146 runs and lost wickets in a hurry. Rohit Sharma’s exceptional catches also played a big part in the Delhi’s top-order collapse.
Mitchell Marsh began the rot by removing David Warner (5) and soon Virender Sehwag (8) joined his opening partner when Rohit took a stunner, inches off the ground, in slip cordon off Vaas.
SCORE BOARD
DECCAN CHARGERS: Adam Gilchrist c Gambhir b Nehra 10, Monish Mishra (run out) 25, Tirumalasetti Suman b Yadav 5, Rohit Sharma c Kaarthik b Yadav 11, Andrew Symonds c Manhas b Mishra 54, Mitchell Marsh c Manhas b Nehra 13, Bodapati Sumanth (not out) 7, Chaminda Vaas c Nehra b Collingwood 3, Rahul Sharma (not out) 14. Extras (LB-2, W-1) 3. Total (for 7 wkts, 20 overs) 145.
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-32, 3-47, 4-66, 5-116, 6-121, 7-128.
Bowling: Dirk Nannes 4-0-22-0, Ashish Nehra 4-0-32-2, Umesh Yadav 4-0-24-2, Amit Mishra 4-0-28-1, Paul Collingwood 3-0-23-1, Tillakaratne Dilshan 1-0-14-0.
DELHI DAREDEVILS: David Warner c Rohit b Marsh 5; Virender Sehwag c Rohit b Vaas 8; Tillakaratne Dilshan lbw Harmeet Singh 11; Gautam Gambhir c Rohit b Ojha 4; Mithun Manhas (run out) 23; Paul Collingwood (not out) 51; Dinesh Karthik b Ojha 1; Amit Mishra b Harmeet Singh 4; Ashish Nehra (not out) 22; Extras (LB-2, W-2, NB-1) 5; Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 134
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-19, 3-25, 4-39, 5-68, 6-72, 7-86.
Bowling: Vaas 4-0-19-1, Mitchell Marsh 2-0-19-1, Harmeet Singh 4-0-41-2, Symonds 2-0-8-0, Pragyan Ojha 4-0-16-2, Rahul Sharma 4-0-29-0.