Sehwag steers Delhi to victory

Virender Sehwag hit 94 not out for Delhi © Getty Images

Virender Sehwag’s recent renaissance continued as he hit an unbeaten 94 from just 41 balls to guide the Delhi Daredevils to their second nine-wicket win to start their Indian Premier League campaign.

The opener, who scored an Indian Test record 319 following his return to the national team earlier this year, was at his imperious best to help his side pass the Deccan Chargers’ 142 for eight with seven overs remaining.

Sehwag smashed 10 fours and six sixes in his innings, highlighted by 30 from one Andrew Symonds over.

Rohit Sharma was the only batsman to fire for the home team, contributing a 36-ball 66, as the pre-tournament favourites fell to the foot of the table.

Both teams were boosted by the arrival of their Pakistan players, fresh from their Twenty20 international win over Bangladesh on Sunday, with Shahid Afridi replacing Scott Styris for the home side while the Daredevils called on Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Malik.

And it was Asif who did the early damage bowling both Adam Gilchrist (eight) and captain VVS Laxman (two).

Glenn McGrath's four overs went for a miserly 22 runs

At the other end Glenn McGrath was at his metronomic best, conceding 22 as he bowled out his four overs.

The early pressure told on the Chargers’ batsman with Venugopal Rao (14) and Symonds (12) falling victim to Farveez Maharoof to leave them 45 for four after 10 overs.

Their hopes of posting a challenging target dipped further when Afridi (two) was trapped leg before wicket by the gentle medium pace of Rajat Bhatia.

But Sharma restored hope when he blasted 26 from the 17th over, bowled by Maharoof, including consecutive sixes to bring up his fifty from 31 balls.

The young India batsman fell soon after when he was caught on the mid-wicket boundary by McGrath.

The visitors were never troubled in reply with Gautam Gambhir (12) the only wicket to fall - caught by Gilchrist from the bowling of RP Singh.

His dismissal paved the way for Sehwag to take centre stage with the opener reaching his half-century from 27 balls, before his destructive over off Symonds, which included three fours and three sixes, drew scores level.

Victory was then sealed from the first ball of the next over as Shikhar Dhawan (25 not out) watched a Chaminda Vaas delivery slip wide down the leg side.