East London, May 9 (Inditop) Delhi Daredevils proved to be the superior side with their seven-wicket demolition of Mumbai Indians at the Buffalo Park here Friday and are now well set to become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).
Daredevils, with 12 points from eight matches, are the new leaders, displacing Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, who are at 11 points from nine matches. Delhi Daredevils and fourth-placed Deccan Chargers are the only two teams to have played eight matches. So Daredevils, with six games in hand, are in a good stead for a semi-final berth for the second time.
After opting to bat, Mumbai Indians found themselves on the backfoot as Daredevils’ bowlers put them on leash from the first ball of their innings and packed them off for 116 runs in 20 overs.
Rajat Bhatia got three for 15 while Man of the Match Ashish Nehra and Dirk Nannes got two wickets each. Daredevils achieved the target with seven balls to spare after AB de Villiers made an unbeaten 50 off 38 balls.
Mumbai were off to a disastrous start with their new opening pair of Luke Ronchi and Jean Paul Duminy back in the dugout in the very first over. Ronchi, who came in for an injured Sanath Jaysuriya, was run out by David Warner in the second ball. Duminy, who has been in fine touch, edged Nannes to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik to reduce Mumbai Indians to 1/2.
Pinal Shah (11) and Sachin Tendukar (15) tried to steady the innings but failed to dig in, leaving Mumbai reeling at 33/4. Abhishek Nayar (18) and Dwayne Bravo (35) joined forces to save Munbai Indians from the blushes. The duo added 57 runs for the fifth wicket and ensured that Mumbai Indians got past the three figure mark.
The Delhi bowlers were tight and maintained the pressure till the end, allowing just seven boundaries and three sixes during the Mumbai innings.
Gautam Gambhir (19) and David Warner (21) gave Delhi Daredevils a solid start before Duminy breached their 42-run partnership by picking up Warner, who was stumped by Shah. Gambhir joined Warner in the next over when he holed out a catch to Ronchi off Harbhajan Singh. Daredevils were suddenly reduced to 46-2.
But De Villiers arrested further damage and with Tillakaratne Dilshan (17) patiently went about the chase.
rounak