<p> After restricting Delhi Daredevils to a modest 98 for eight, the Bushrangers reached the target in 16.4 overs with seven wickets to spare on a pitch that didn’t meet the required standards.<br /><br />Robert Quiney laid the platform for the chase with a quickfire 40 (33b, 4x4, 3x6) and despite three blows in quick succession, Bushrangers -- with an insignificant target to scale down and skipper Cameron White’s (22 n.o.) cool head to guide -- reached home with great ease, a six over the sight screen by Aiden Blizzard off Rajat Bhatia sealing it for the visiting camp. <br /><br />The Bushrangers’ discipline was matched only by the recklessness of the Delhi batsmen, who, it appeared, were no wiser by the happenings in the middle during the first match of the day between NSW and Diamond Eagles.<br /><br />On a pitch where stroke-making was akin to swimming against the tide of a raging river, prudence should have been the preferred strategy of the hosts. Instead they tried to whack the ball out of sight and on more than a few occasions, they found their defences broken by the vagaries of the pitch where the ball refused to rise above ankle height. <br />The fact that there were eight bowled dismissals from the two innings — and thirteen in all from the two matches of the day — spoke volumes about the nature of the newly-laid pitch. <br /><br /> Virender Sehwag, playing for the first time for Daredevils after relinquishing captaincy, promised great entertainment for the sizeable crowd taking two fours off the opening over by Shane Harwood in typical Sehwag style. <br /><br />Joining Gautam Gambhir at the top for the first time since the IPL-II semifinal in South Africa, the right-hander pushed the score along, rotating the strike through cheeky singles. The combo, however, didn’t last long as Harwood knocked down Gambhir’s offstump with a delivery that almost rolled along the ground.<br /><br /> Gambhir’s departure linked up Sehwag with another of his ilk — Tillakeratne Dilshan — and the presence of two of the most devastating batsmen was a mouth-watering prospect. A brilliant return catch by paceman Clint McKay, however, put an end Sehwag’s breezy but brief stint. <br /><br />Owais Shah poked McKay behind the wicket while a yes-no situation between Dilshan and Dinesh Kaarthick resulted in the latter’s dismissal. With his patience tested, Dilshan perished becoming the third victim of McKay. Mithun Manhas did his best after hurting his leg while taking a single, but the effort wasn’t good enough to save the day for the Daredevils.<br /><br /><br />Score Board<br /><br />DELHI DAREDEVILS: Gambhir b Harwood 4 (8b), Sehwag c & b McKay 21 (15b, 4x4), Dilshan b McKay 18 (26b, 2x4), Shah c Wade b McKay 0 (5b), Kaarthick (run out) 6 (7b, 1x4), Manhas b Harwood 25 (34b, 2x4), Bhatia b McDonald 8 (9b, 1x4), Mishra (not out) 7 (14b), Sangwan b McDonald 1 (2b). Extras (B-2, LB-2, W-4) 8. Total (for 8 wkts, 20 overs) 98.<br />Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Gambhir), 2-31 (Sehwag), 3-43 (Shah), 4-47 (Kaarthick), 5-76 (Dilshan), 6-84 (Manhas), 7-96 (Bhatia), 8-98 (Sangwan). Bowling: Harwood 4-0-20-2, Siddle 4-0-21-0 (w-2), McKay 4-0-17-3 (w-1), McDonald 4-0-17-2, Holland 3-0-10-0 (w-1), D Hussey 1-0-9-0. <br /><br />VICTORIA BUSHRANGERS: Quiney b Mishra 40 (33b, 4x4, 3x6), Hodge b Dilshan 9 (16b, 1x4), White (not out) 22 (23b, 2x4), Hussey b Bhatia 7 (13b), Blizzard (not out) 15 (16b, 1x4). Extras (LB-1, W-5, NB-1) 7. Total (for 3 wkts, 16.4 overs) 100.<br />Fall of wickets: 1-55 (Quiney), 2-55 (Hodge), 3-78 (D Hussey). <br />Bowling: Nehra 3-0-20-0 (w-3), Nannes 3-0-17-0 (w-1), Mishra 4-0-30-1 (nb-1), Dilshan 4-0-14-1, Bhatia 2.4-0-18-1.</p>
<p> After restricting Delhi Daredevils to a modest 98 for eight, the Bushrangers reached the target in 16.4 overs with seven wickets to spare on a pitch that didn’t meet the required standards.<br /><br />Robert Quiney laid the platform for the chase with a quickfire 40 (33b, 4x4, 3x6) and despite three blows in quick succession, Bushrangers -- with an insignificant target to scale down and skipper Cameron White’s (22 n.o.) cool head to guide -- reached home with great ease, a six over the sight screen by Aiden Blizzard off Rajat Bhatia sealing it for the visiting camp. <br /><br />The Bushrangers’ discipline was matched only by the recklessness of the Delhi batsmen, who, it appeared, were no wiser by the happenings in the middle during the first match of the day between NSW and Diamond Eagles.<br /><br />On a pitch where stroke-making was akin to swimming against the tide of a raging river, prudence should have been the preferred strategy of the hosts. Instead they tried to whack the ball out of sight and on more than a few occasions, they found their defences broken by the vagaries of the pitch where the ball refused to rise above ankle height. <br />The fact that there were eight bowled dismissals from the two innings — and thirteen in all from the two matches of the day — spoke volumes about the nature of the newly-laid pitch. <br /><br /> Virender Sehwag, playing for the first time for Daredevils after relinquishing captaincy, promised great entertainment for the sizeable crowd taking two fours off the opening over by Shane Harwood in typical Sehwag style. <br /><br />Joining Gautam Gambhir at the top for the first time since the IPL-II semifinal in South Africa, the right-hander pushed the score along, rotating the strike through cheeky singles. The combo, however, didn’t last long as Harwood knocked down Gambhir’s offstump with a delivery that almost rolled along the ground.<br /><br /> Gambhir’s departure linked up Sehwag with another of his ilk — Tillakeratne Dilshan — and the presence of two of the most devastating batsmen was a mouth-watering prospect. A brilliant return catch by paceman Clint McKay, however, put an end Sehwag’s breezy but brief stint. <br /><br />Owais Shah poked McKay behind the wicket while a yes-no situation between Dilshan and Dinesh Kaarthick resulted in the latter’s dismissal. With his patience tested, Dilshan perished becoming the third victim of McKay. Mithun Manhas did his best after hurting his leg while taking a single, but the effort wasn’t good enough to save the day for the Daredevils.<br /><br /><br />Score Board<br /><br />DELHI DAREDEVILS: Gambhir b Harwood 4 (8b), Sehwag c & b McKay 21 (15b, 4x4), Dilshan b McKay 18 (26b, 2x4), Shah c Wade b McKay 0 (5b), Kaarthick (run out) 6 (7b, 1x4), Manhas b Harwood 25 (34b, 2x4), Bhatia b McDonald 8 (9b, 1x4), Mishra (not out) 7 (14b), Sangwan b McDonald 1 (2b). Extras (B-2, LB-2, W-4) 8. Total (for 8 wkts, 20 overs) 98.<br />Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Gambhir), 2-31 (Sehwag), 3-43 (Shah), 4-47 (Kaarthick), 5-76 (Dilshan), 6-84 (Manhas), 7-96 (Bhatia), 8-98 (Sangwan). Bowling: Harwood 4-0-20-2, Siddle 4-0-21-0 (w-2), McKay 4-0-17-3 (w-1), McDonald 4-0-17-2, Holland 3-0-10-0 (w-1), D Hussey 1-0-9-0. <br /><br />VICTORIA BUSHRANGERS: Quiney b Mishra 40 (33b, 4x4, 3x6), Hodge b Dilshan 9 (16b, 1x4), White (not out) 22 (23b, 2x4), Hussey b Bhatia 7 (13b), Blizzard (not out) 15 (16b, 1x4). Extras (LB-1, W-5, NB-1) 7. Total (for 3 wkts, 16.4 overs) 100.<br />Fall of wickets: 1-55 (Quiney), 2-55 (Hodge), 3-78 (D Hussey). <br />Bowling: Nehra 3-0-20-0 (w-3), Nannes 3-0-17-0 (w-1), Mishra 4-0-30-1 (nb-1), Dilshan 4-0-14-1, Bhatia 2.4-0-18-1.</p>
