In the build-up to this match,all talk revolved around the Delhi Daredevils needing to find a Plan B,having gone down to an embarassing seven-wicket loss in the opener. Against Wayamba,the Sri Lankan T20 champions,Virender Sehwag,the batsman,just reverted to Plan A attack,irrespective of the conditions. Sehwag went on the onslaught at the inconsistent Ferozeshah Kotla pitch to provide a platform for Delhis big total. Batting first,Dinesh Karthik provided the finishing touches to the innings which finished at a healthy 170 while Glenn McGrath,making an appearance on a cricket field after a break stretching to a year-and-a-half,picked up two wickets in an over to add a touch of romance to the result as Wayambas chase crumbled early. Down to 36 for five in eight overs,it took Mahela Jayawardenes fighting half-century to provide some respectability to the total. Wayamba eventually lost by 50 runs,finishing up with 120 for seven in their 20 overs. The Daredevils not only broke the jinx surrounding IPL teams in the competition,they also became the third side to qualify for the next league stage. The Daredevils have a net run rate of +0.700,and are currently second in their group,behind Victoria. Wayamba need a really big win against Victoria to make the cut,and if they do that,the Australian sides net run rate will fall below Delhis. Change of tactics There was a change of tactics at the top as skipper Gautam Gambhir dropped himself down to number three. Things started slowly,with Tillakaratne Dilshan playing out a maiden over to start the proceedings. Sehwag,though,was in a hurry and the opener,coming off a long break and a couple of low scores,hit ten boundaries and an 89-metre six. One of those shots did ricochet off Jehan Mubarak into the cover boundary when on 16,but it would be harsh to put that down as a chance. He reached his half-century in 32 balls,and finished with 66 off 42 balls. Gambhir also promoted Dinesh Karthik to number four,and that move proved a masterstroke as well. Karthik supported Sehwag well after the captain fell early,and the two put on 67 in quick time before Sehwags poor response to a sharp call ended the association. But with the last five overs in hand,Karthik kept the sizeable Sunday night crowd on their toes,especially when he hit Ajantha Mendis for three consecutive sixes in the 19th over of the innings before falling for a 41-ball 61. Bowlers excel The Delhi bowlers made full use of the cushion and Dirk Nannes uprooted the stumps twice in his first two overs. Ashish Nehra was hard to get away with at the other end,but the big moments of the chase belonged to the man wearing the No 11 jersey. Glenn McGrath ended his 16-match spell on the Daredevils bench with the unusual sight of the keeper standing up to him,but retained the familiarity of his line-and-length bowling; and his wicket-taking abilities as well,as it turned out,scalping two in his second over. He finished with figures of 4-0-20-2 and got a well-deserved standing ovation from the Kotla crowd.
