Sehwag plunders Pune as Daredevils avenge their loss

Delhi Daredevils romped home to an 8 wicket win over Pune Warriors India courtesy a Virender Sehwag half century. Chasing 147 to win, the Daredevils got to the target in just 16 overs with Sehwag scoring an unbeaten 87 of 48 balls.

Delhi seeking revenge for a home defeat took on an upbeat Pune Warriors team on their home ground in Pune. The Warriors having won the toss, elected to bat and Sehwag seemed unfazed about bowling first although he said he would’ve elected to bat first too.

Delhi got off to a dream start with both Irfan Pathan and Morne Morkel striking with the second balls of their respective overs, dismissing Ryder and Ganguly very early in the innings. Manish Pandey and Uthappa went into recovery mode and played cautiously enough to build a solid partnership of 145, which was the highest ever for the Pune Warriors and the highest this IPL, with occasional boundaries for them to accelerate later on. The sloppy fielding of the Daredevils saw three dropped catches which allowed the Warriors the slight window to get away.

Uthappa and Pandey brought up their half centuries and tried their best to take Pune to the best possible score, scoring 96 in the last 10, ending up with 146 at the end of 20 overs, which was reasonably challenging. Delhi however, gave away a few more runs than they would have liked after that brilliant start they had. Had they held onto their catches, it would have been a different story. Manish Pandey finished with an unbeaten 80 and Uthappa with an unbeaten 60.

After 10 overs – PWI – 50/2

After 20 overs, PWI – 146/2

Opening with Jayawardene and Sehwag, the Daredevils got off to a decent start till a comical confusion between the openers saw the end of Jayawardene being run-out. Sehwag and Pietersen took on the Pune bowlers and the Daredevils rocketed to 61 runs after 6 overs. Sehwag brought up his 50 in the 10th over off just 28 balls.

Sehwag took advantage of a pretty ordinary bowling effort from the Warriors. En route to his 87, he hit 10 fours and three DLF maximums. Pietersen also got into the act and added 89 before he top edged one from Sharma for 27. Sehwag took care of the rest and sealed the game with Ross Taylor. The Pune bowlers failed to create any impact on a raging Sehwag with most of them going for more than seven an over. Only Murali Karthik bowled a tight spell but it was not enough to stop the Daredevils.

The win here strengthens Delhi Daredevils perch at top of the table while Pune would be bitterly disappointed with the result. Pune Warriors take on the Deccan Chargers next while the Daredevils will be raring to go against the Mumbai Indians.

After 10 overs – DD – 99/1

After 16 overs, DD - 148/2

Man of the Match: Virender Sehwag