Sehwag runs riot for rampant Delhi

Virender Sehwag struck 10 fours and a six in his entertaining 66 off just 42 balls as Delhi amassed 170 for five

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Virender Sehwag and Dinesh Karthik hit blistering half-centuries as Delhi Daredevils crushed Wayamba Elevens by 50 runs in the Champions League Twenty20.

Sehwag struck 66 off 42 balls and Karthik weighed in with 61 off 41 to propel Delhi to a daunting 170 for five in front of a home crowd at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

Sri Lankan side Wayamba never looked likely to challenge the Indian Premier League giants, slipping to 52 for six before Mahela Jayawardene restored respectability with a valiant fifty of his own.

He made 53 off 40 balls but was one of four wickets for Australian left-arm seamer Dirk Nannes, who finished with 4-24, while compatriot Glenn McGrath proved he remains a formidable proposition despite retiring from first-class cricket by claiming 2-20.

Delhi needed victory in Delhi to stay in the competition, and they were set on their way by Sehwag, who hit 10 fours and a six in his blistering innings.

Karthik launched Ajantha Mendis for three consecutive sixes as he too made light of a surface on which New South Wales and Sussex struggled to score freely earlier in the day.

Sehwag saw opening partner Tillakaratne Dilshan drill Chanaka Welegedara to short extra-cover before Mendis trapped captain Gautam Gambhir lbw, but he went on to dominate a third-wicket stand of 67 with Karthik.

Karthik picked up the baton after Sehwag was run out by Jayawardene from short third man, and he found good support from England batsman Owais Shah.

Mendis exacted revenge for his treatment at the hands of Karthik by having him stumped by Sameera de Zoysa, and Shah was bowled by Welegedara in the final over after smashing 18 off 10 balls.

Nannes strengthened Delhi’s grip on the contest by removing Mahela Udawatte and Michael Vandort in his first two overs.

McGrath, a replacement for the injured Paul Collingwood, found sufficient movement back in to bowl Jehan Mubarak and Kaushal Lokuarachchi in the same over, and ensure Jayawardene’s brave effort was in vain.